Atlantis’ Final Rollover
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Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
From NASA’s “Image of the Day” gallery, the above image shows Shuttle Atlantis during its move from the Orbiter Processing Facility, to the Vehicle Assemble Building at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Inside the VAB, the shuttle will be attached to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters.
This move, referred to as “rollover” is a major step in the processing of Atlantis, for the final shuttle mission (STS-135) to the International Space Station. The target date for the launch is early July.
The STS-135 crew (Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim) were on hand for the move. Of note is that STS-135 will only be flying with a four-person crew. No shuttle mission has flown with only a four-person crew since 1983 ( STS-6 / Challenger).
Source:NASA Image of the Day Gallery
Ray Sanders is a Sci-Fi geek, astronomer and blogger. Currently researching variable stars at Arizona State University, he writes for Universe Today, The Planetary Society blog, and his own blog, Dear Astronomer
2012-12-04 08:06:02
Source: http://www.dearastronomer.com/2011/05/18/atlantis-final-rollover/
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