The eve of Atlantis' move to museum
Spaceflight Now captured views of the space shuttle Atlantis parked in storage at the Vehicle Assembly Building and at the orbiter's exhibit hall under construction at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Thursday. The ship will be transported to the display site on Friday.
See our coverage of Atlantis' delivery.
Photo credit: Walter Scriptunas II/Spaceflight Now
Atlantis ready to exit the VAB before sunrise Friday morning.
See larger image
See larger image
Looking down the belly of Atlantis.
See larger image
The forward attach point under Atlantis' nose.
See larger image
See larger image
Close-up of the nose gear door seals.
See larger image
See larger image
Gazing up 525 feet.
See larger image
See larger image
See larger image
See larger image
Crew module access hatch.
See larger image
Port-side Forward Reaction Control System thrusters.
See larger image
See larger image
Two-cab for the OTS driving crew.
See larger image
Reinforced carbon carbon wing leading edge panels.
See larger image
See larger image
See larger image
Three replica space shuttle main engines.
See larger image
See larger image
See larger image
One of the Aft attach points between the spacecraft and transporter.
See larger image
Aft-starboard corner.
See larger image
OTS sports United Space Alliance and NASA logos.
See larger image
Atlantis anchored atop the OTS for the move.
See larger image
Fisheye shot.
See larger image
The OTS has 76 wheels.
See larger image
Modified "strongbacks" will help with opening the payload bay doors inside exhibit hall.
See larger image
Flight deck windows are covered for the move.
See larger image
Forward Reaction Control System.
See larger image
Atlantis in VAB high bay 4.
See larger image
Outside the $100 million exhibit hall.
See larger image
See larger image
One of the replica solid rocket boosters will be erected here.
See larger image
Workers affix siding on the building.
See larger image
Inside the building where Atlantis will be displayed.
See larger image
The gaseous oxygen vent hood from pad 39B will be exhibited in the building.
See larger image
Atlantis will be positioned nose-first in the hall.
See larger image
This unfinished wall is where Atlantis will enter Friday night.
See larger image
Construction of the final wall will begin immediately after Atlantis' arrival.
See larger image
See larger image
The attraction opens next July!
See larger image
|
