 "QUANTUM SHOT" #148Shuttle "Discovery": Pre-Flight Activities, Rarely Seen by the General Public Technology moves on, and these photos may soon follow the way of our other post: "Rare Photos of the Russian Buran Space Program". Can we say, it was good while it lasted? However, these pictures deserve a wide viewing audience: the amount of thought and engineering that goes into every launch is immense; each successful take-off represents the Mankind's finest effort, and is a wonder to behold. (Thanks to Tim for sending this in; images courtesy Christie L. Dyett - NASA Space Coast Launch Services.) External tank arrives by barge from Louisiana:   External tank approaches Vertical Assembly Building (VAB):  Removing external tank:    Preparing to lift the tank to vertical:   Lifting the tank:  Solid rockets are attached:  Orbiter: External tank with Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB):  Engines are attached to the shuttle in the Orbiter Processing Facility:     Shuttle in sling ready for lift in VAB:  Shuttle has been moved to VAB and will be attached to external tank:   Shuttle is attached:     Payload Preparation in Space Station Processing Facility:   Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM):  Payload carrier leaves Canister Rotation Facility:   Payload being moved to Launch Pad:   Lifting payload into position for insertion into "Discovery" when it arrives at the pad:    Shuttle "Discovery" leaves VAB:    Trip to launch: Length - 3 1/2 mi Time - 6-8 hours Arrow indicates the Launch Pad.  Crawler Control:  "Discovery" arrives at Pad:    (image credit: NASA / Ken Thornsley)  Ready for Launch:  (image credit: NASA / Scott Andrews) We Have Lift Off !   (image credit: NASA - click to enlarge)  Images courtesy Christie L. Dyett and Amanda Diller - NASA Space Coast Launch Services Also Read "Rare Photos of the Russian Buran Space Program"! Permanent Link...  Category: Technology,Space Related Posts: Shuttle Crawler: Moving Experience, part 2 |
