CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In Hangar AF at Cape Canaveral, Fla., separation rings are moved above two segments of one of the retrieved solid rocket boosters from the STS-126 launch. The rings will be lowered and locked around the segments. The pins attaching the segments to each other are removed at the start. Each separation ring has three joints that help mold the ring around the segment and an air motor is used to rotate the rings to separate the segments. After disassembly, the segments will be sent to ATK (Alliant Techsystems) in Utah for final processing and return to Kennedy for another shuttle launch. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
Location Cape Canaveral, FL
Date December 9, 2008