Rarely Seen Shuttle Pre-Flight Activities

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11787852.post-55109326214050130602007-03-28T02:20:00.012-07:002009-01-31T17:31:41.644-08:00Rarely Seen Shuttle Pre-Flight Activities<table><tr><td class="wide"><img style="margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 41px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/RbhhjvQRmvI/AAAAAAAAADw/zQN-L8I5IBo/s400/b_quantumshot_cup.jpg" alt="" border="0" />"QUANTUM SHOT" #148 Shuttle "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: <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/11/rare-photos-of-russian-buran-space.html">"Rare Photos of the Russian Buran Space Program"</a>. 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: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFqKmuDzMI/AAAAAAAAdJc/aThVooPcs7g/s1600-h/01.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:707px" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFqKmuDzMI/AAAAAAAAdJc/aThVooPcs7g/s720/01.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFqLJ-shwI/AAAAAAAAdJo/sG-EAQOcax0/s1600-h/02.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:707px" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFqLJ-shwI/AAAAAAAAdJo/sG-EAQOcax0/s720/02.jpg" /></a> External tank approaches Vertical Assembly Building (VAB): <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFqLmVhq7I/AAAAAAAAdJ0/BlNWLDbomVw/s1600-h/03.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFqLmVhq7I/AAAAAAAAdJ0/BlNWLDbomVw/s720/03.jpg" /></a> Removing external tank: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFqL3RC-OI/AAAAAAAAdKA/DayPCcezEIY/s1600-h/04.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFqL3RC-OI/AAAAAAAAdKA/DayPCcezEIY/s720/04.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFqMTidnBI/AAAAAAAAdKM/zSOt8eLQqzE/s1600-h/05.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFqMTidnBI/AAAAAAAAdKM/zSOt8eLQqzE/s720/05.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFvC_uF6uI/AAAAAAAAdKs/Hv2QnoAvBuo/s1600-h/06.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFvC_uF6uI/AAAAAAAAdKs/Hv2QnoAvBuo/s720/06.jpg" /></a> Preparing to lift the tank to vertical: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFvDZCDxzI/AAAAAAAAdK4/allK-Hpiv0U/s1600-h/07.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFvDZCDxzI/AAAAAAAAdK4/allK-Hpiv0U/s720/07.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFvEChfk4I/AAAAAAAAdLE/Aa4GytwGvhI/s1600-h/08.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFvEChfk4I/AAAAAAAAdLE/Aa4GytwGvhI/s720/08.jpg" /></a> Lifting the tank: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFvEh1ytMI/AAAAAAAAdLQ/GejZW0sSf2U/s1600-h/09.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFvEh1ytMI/AAAAAAAAdLQ/GejZW0sSf2U/s800/09.jpg" /></a> Solid rockets are attached: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFvFI9pa9I/AAAAAAAAdLc/GoyYxrbHqGE/s1600-h/10.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFvFI9pa9I/AAAAAAAAdLc/GoyYxrbHqGE/s800/10.jpg" /></a> Orbiter: External tank with Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB): <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFwzfSswoI/AAAAAAAAdL8/KotHhSy6O3Y/s1600-h/11.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFwzfSswoI/AAAAAAAAdL8/KotHhSy6O3Y/s800/11.jpg" /></a> Engines are attached to the shuttle in the Orbiter Processing Facility: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFw0GHVYWI/AAAAAAAAdMI/dsC1BAKD1LY/s1600-h/12.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFw0GHVYWI/AAAAAAAAdMI/dsC1BAKD1LY/s720/12.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFw0suUMGI/AAAAAAAAdMU/TB_Ve0Obyrw/s1600-h/13.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFw0suUMGI/AAAAAAAAdMU/TB_Ve0Obyrw/s720/13.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFw1bHULaI/AAAAAAAAdMg/1UFLU4l96fo/s1600-h/14.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:707px" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFw1bHULaI/AAAAAAAAdMg/1UFLU4l96fo/s720/14.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFw2FPZ7PI/AAAAAAAAdMs/F6xbbTNt0bg/s1600-h/15.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFw2FPZ7PI/AAAAAAAAdMs/F6xbbTNt0bg/s800/15.jpg" /></a> Shuttle in sling ready for lift in VAB: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFyJUJ0eAI/AAAAAAAAdNM/iXbeqmGXvtg/s1600-h/16.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFyJUJ0eAI/AAAAAAAAdNM/iXbeqmGXvtg/s720/16.jpg" /></a> Shuttle has been moved to VAB and will be attached to external tank: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFyKS-vOMI/AAAAAAAAdNc/jQwRcU-8CV4/s1600-h/17.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFyKS-vOMI/AAAAAAAAdNc/jQwRcU-8CV4/s800/17.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFyK44CzmI/AAAAAAAAdNo/xFFxkofFAQ8/s1600-h/18.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFyK44CzmI/AAAAAAAAdNo/xFFxkofFAQ8/s720/18.jpg" /></a> Shuttle is attached: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFyLsmRqXI/AAAAAAAAdN0/EPSHbCDsWvQ/s1600-h/19.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFyLsmRqXI/AAAAAAAAdN0/EPSHbCDsWvQ/s720/19.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFyMZ_z0RI/AAAAAAAAdOA/qh9HaIIrZNM/s1600-h/20.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFyMZ_z0RI/AAAAAAAAdOA/qh9HaIIrZNM/s800/20.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFzkWe4TGI/AAAAAAAAdOg/ukkbynZOVJ0/s1600-h//21.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFzkWe4TGI/AAAAAAAAdOg/ukkbynZOVJ0/s800/21.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFzlJ9a2-I/AAAAAAAAdOs/65U3fyuNLr4/s1600-h/22.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFzlJ9a2-I/AAAAAAAAdOs/65U3fyuNLr4/s800/22.jpg" /></a> Payload Preparation in Space Station Processing Facility: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFzleTobNI/AAAAAAAAdO4/dD_bwhDkWLo/s1600-h/23.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFzleTobNI/AAAAAAAAdO4/dD_bwhDkWLo/s800/23.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFzl1eSFjI/AAAAAAAAdPE/Jns0pdCsL0g/s1600-h/24.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFzl1eSFjI/AAAAAAAAdPE/Jns0pdCsL0g/s720/24.jpg" /></a> Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM): <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFzmfrK30I/AAAAAAAAdPQ/ws8DNCW_4PQ/s1600-h/25.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMFzmfrK30I/AAAAAAAAdPQ/ws8DNCW_4PQ/s720/25.jpg" /></a> Payload carrier leaves Canister Rotation Facility: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1ih2lb9I/AAAAAAAAdPw/53AhmeTn0tA/s1600-h/26.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1ih2lb9I/AAAAAAAAdPw/53AhmeTn0tA/s800/26.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1jLKFRPI/AAAAAAAAdP8/qJ7NdU7V11M/s1600-h/27.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1jLKFRPI/AAAAAAAAdP8/qJ7NdU7V11M/s720/27.jpg" /></a> Payload being moved to Launch Pad: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1jc4t9BI/AAAAAAAAdQI/NcALmls0jk8/s1600-h/28.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1jc4t9BI/AAAAAAAAdQI/NcALmls0jk8/s720/28.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1j3I9-HI/AAAAAAAAdQU/SRipChWzMcI/s1600-h/29.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1j3I9-HI/AAAAAAAAdQU/SRipChWzMcI/s720/29.jpg" /></a> Lifting payload into position for insertion into "Discovery" when it arrives at the pad: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1kY_rAgI/AAAAAAAAdQg/BzxRlL3K7Uw/s1600-h/30.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1kY_rAgI/AAAAAAAAdQg/BzxRlL3K7Uw/s800/30.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1k0U6RHI/AAAAAAAAdQs/0b0yCyeuA8Y/s1600-h/31.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1k0U6RHI/AAAAAAAAdQs/0b0yCyeuA8Y/s800/31.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1lYcRM5I/AAAAAAAAdQ4/FpqAGApp_DQ/s1600-h/32.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1lYcRM5I/AAAAAAAAdQ4/FpqAGApp_DQ/s800/32.jpg" /></a> Shuttle "Discovery" leaves VAB: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1l-iA4UI/AAAAAAAAdRE/be-8hEUX0us/s1600-h/33.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1l-iA4UI/AAAAAAAAdRE/be-8hEUX0us/s800/33.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1mUBMOoI/AAAAAAAAdRQ/1u91iisIXrM/s1600-h/34.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMF1mUBMOoI/AAAAAAAAdRQ/1u91iisIXrM/s800/34.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGsVSLDNzI/AAAAAAAAdV8/iGNDM6ToRI0/s1600-h/438458446_0e293aea5b_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGsVSLDNzI/AAAAAAAAdV8/iGNDM6ToRI0/s800/438458446_0e293aea5b_o.jpg" /></a> Trip to launch: Length - 3 1/2 mi Time - 6-8 hours Arrow indicates the Launch Pad. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq6yVBAXI/AAAAAAAAdTg/h5RLXNLc-sg/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq6yVBAXI/AAAAAAAAdTg/h5RLXNLc-sg/s800/1.jpg" /></a> Crawler Control: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq7e9We2I/AAAAAAAAdTs/rRozcyyaStU/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq7e9We2I/AAAAAAAAdTs/rRozcyyaStU/s720/2.jpg" /></a> "Discovery" arrives at Pad: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq79HrJhI/AAAAAAAAdT8/f3EjFuxB-K0/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq79HrJhI/AAAAAAAAdT8/f3EjFuxB-K0/s800/3.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq8Zkoc-I/AAAAAAAAdUI/RsAlETkw6ig/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq8Zkoc-I/AAAAAAAAdUI/RsAlETkw6ig/s800/4.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:150414main_shuttle_night-lg.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq9chvIXI/AAAAAAAAdUg/HlglQzjrlRQ/s720/5.jpg" /></a> (image credit: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:150414main_shuttle_night-lg.jpg">NASA / Ken Thornsley</a>) <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq-jZYp7I/AAAAAAAAdU4/1fTZp3apMGc/s1600-h/438458722_4b287a8772_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:720px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq-jZYp7I/AAAAAAAAdU4/1fTZp3apMGc/s720/438458722_4b287a8772_o.jpg" /></a> Ready for Launch: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:STS-121_Discovery.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq_HhIBZI/AAAAAAAAdVE/syo-NBmXjDg/s800/438455953_1d6c1b9946_o.jpg" /></a> (image credit: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:150414main_shuttle_night-lg.jpg">NASA / Scott Andrews</a>) We Have Lift Off ! <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq_kpnrMI/AAAAAAAAdVQ/7kG-k0zxGfM/s1600-h/438458834_c7ff3f7480_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:720px" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGq_kpnrMI/AAAAAAAAdVQ/7kG-k0zxGfM/s720/438458834_c7ff3f7480_o.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/STS-121-DiscoveryEnhanced.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMx0xkdjxZI/AAAAAAAAefg/-uaqEUwbQdY/s720/346ythfhdsfdfg.jpg" /></a> (image credit: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:STS-121-DiscoveryEnhanced.jpg">NASA</a> - click to enlarge) <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGrANo1H4I/AAAAAAAAdVc/wXxg3TB85NY/s1600-h/437245352_4419b0eed1_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SMGrANo1H4I/AAAAAAAAdVc/wXxg3TB85NY/s720/437245352_4419b0eed1_o.jpg" /></a> Images courtesy Christie L. Dyett and Amanda Diller - NASA Space Coast Launch Services Also Read <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/11/rare-photos-of-russian-buran-space.html">"Rare Photos of the Russian Buran Space Program"!</a> <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/03/rarely-seen-shuttle-activities.html#">Permanent Link</a>...<a href="http://del.icio.us/post" onclick="window.open('http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'delicious','toolbar=no,width=700,height=400'); return false;"><img src="http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif"></a> Category: <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/01/category-technology.html">Technology</a>,<a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/01/category-space.html">Space</a> Related Posts: <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2006/12/ultimate-moving-experience-part-2.html">Shuttle Crawler: Moving Experience, part 2</a> </td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11787852-5510932621405013060?l=www.darkroastedblend.com'/></div>Avi Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550929795356812957noreply@blogger.com20