Rarely Seen Shuttle Pre-Flight Activities

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:

We Have Lift Off !