(NASA) – Managers are looking to move space shuttle Atlantis to its launch pad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center no earlier than Tuesday morning. Atlantis’ rollout from Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A was scheduled for Saturday morning. The delay will accommodate additional work on Atlantis.
Technicians have removed a stuck guide pin on the plate that connects the external tank’s liquid hydrogen umbilical to the shuttle. Workers now are making a series of follow-up inspections before reattaching the umbilical and other connections to prepare Atlantis for launch. The shuttle is attached to the external tank with several connectors during launch. The tank, which holds fuel and oxygen for the shuttle’s three main engines, is jettisoned just as the shuttle reaches orbit.
Image above: A worker watches as space shuttle Atlantis is carefully lowered so it can be anchored to the external tank in preparation for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis
Atlantis is being prepared for launch on a mission to upgrade NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Liftoff remains targeted for Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. The flight will improve Hubble’s equipment and instruments so the observatory can remain operational for at least another five years.
04:42 am
04:13 am
Gabitasoft Interactive. All Rights Reserved.