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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery passes the control tower on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as it touches down March 28, 2009, to complete the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey on the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown was at 3:13:17 p.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 3:13:40 p.m. and wheels stop was at 3:14:45 p.m. Discovery delivered the final pair of large power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment. The mission was the 28th flight to the station, the 36th flight of Discovery and the 125th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 70th landing at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Tim Powers KSC-2009-2386

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery passes the control towe...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery passes the control tower on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as it touches down March 28, 2009, to complete the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- As night falls on NASA's Kennedy Space Center, space shuttle Endeavour touches down on Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility to end the STS-123 mission, a 16-day flight to the International Space Station. This was the 16th night landing at Kennedy. The main landing gear touched down at 8:39:08 p.m. EDT. The nose landing gear touched down at 8:39:17 p.m. and wheel stop was at 8:40:41 p.m. The mission completed nearly 6.6 million miles. The landing was on the second opportunity after the first was waved off due to unstable weather in the Kennedy Space Center area. The STS-123 mission delivered the first segment of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency's two-armed robotic system, known as Dextre. Photo credit: NASA/Kevin O'Connell KSC-08pd0804

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- As night falls on NASA's Kennedy Space Center...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- As night falls on NASA's Kennedy Space Center, space shuttle Endeavour touches down on Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility to end the STS-123 mission, a 16-day flight to the Inter... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery approaches Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to complete the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey on the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown was at 3:13:17 p.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 3:13:40 p.m. and wheels stop was at 3:14:45 p.m. Discovery delivered the final pair of large power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment. The mission was the 28th flight to the station, the 36th flight of Discovery and the 125th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 70th landing at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Kenny Allen KSC-2009-2380

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery approaches Runway 15 at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery approaches Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to complete the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey on the STS-119 mission to the International Space S... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Xenon lights illuminate space shuttle Atlantis' unfurled drag chute as the vehicle rolls to a stop on the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final. Securing the space shuttle fleet's place in history, Atlantis marked the 26th nighttime landing of NASA's Space Shuttle Program and the 78th landing at Kennedy. Main gear touchdown was at 5:57:00 a.m. EDT, followed by nose gear touchdown at 5:57:20 a.m., and wheelstop at 5:57:54 a.m. On board are STS-135 Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim. On the 37th shuttle mission to the International Space Station, STS-135 delivered more than 9,400 pounds of spare parts, equipment and supplies in the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module that will sustain station operations for the next year. STS-135 was the 33rd and final flight for Atlantis, which has spent 307 days in space, orbited Earth 4,848 times and traveled 125,935,769 miles. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2011-5629

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Xenon lights illuminate space shuttle Atlantis...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Xenon lights illuminate space shuttle Atlantis' unfurled drag chute as the vehicle rolls to a stop on the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida f... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Seen from behind, Endeavour kicks up dust as its wheels touch down on runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, completing a 13-day mission to the International Space Station. The STS-118 mission began Aug. 8 and installed a new gyroscope, an external spare parts platform and another truss segment to the expanding station. Endeavour's main gear touched down at 12:32:16 p.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 12:32:29 p.m. and wheel stop was at 12:33:20 p.m. Endeavour traveled nearly 5.3 million miles, landing on orbit 201. STS-118 was the 119th space shuttle flight, the 22nd flight to the station, the 20th flight for Endeavour and the second of four missions planned for 2007. This was the 65th landing of an orbiter at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/John Kechele, Scott Haun KSC-07pp2351

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Seen from behind, Endeavour kicks up dus...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Seen from behind, Endeavour kicks up dust as its wheels touch down on runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, completing a 13-day mission to the International Space Station. The ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the early morning hours after landing, space shuttle Endeavour's "towback" vehicle slowly pulls it from the Shuttle Landing Facility to Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A purge unit that pumps conditioned air into a shuttle after landing is connected to Endeavour's aft end. Once inside the processing facility, Endeavour will be prepared for future public display. Endeavour's final return from space completed the 16-day, 6.5-million-mile STS-134 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 2:34:51 a.m. EDT, followed by nose gear touchdown at 2:35:04 a.m., and wheelstop at 2:35:36 a.m. Endeavour and its crew delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) and the Express Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) to the International Space Station. AMS will help researchers understand the origin of the universe and search for evidence of dark matter, strange matter and antimatter from the station. ELC-3 carried spare parts that will sustain station operations once the shuttles are retired from service. STS-134 was the 25th and final flight for Endeavour, which spent 299 days in space, orbited Earth 4,671 times and traveled 122,883,151 miles. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-4263

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the early morning hours after landing, spac...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the early morning hours after landing, space shuttle Endeavour's "towback" vehicle slowly pulls it from the Shuttle Landing Facility to Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy... More

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, an overhead crane lifts the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) to mate it with the components seen at lower left in the photo. The forward section of each booster, from nose cap to forward skirt contains avionics, a sequencer, forward separation motors, a nose cone separation system, drogue and main parachutes, a recovery beacon, a recovery light, a parachute camera on selected flights and a range safety system. Each SRB weighs approximately 1.3 million pounds at launch. The SRB is part of the stack for Space Shuttle Discovery and the STS-92 mission, scheduled for launch Oct. 5, from Launch Pad 39A, on the fifth flight to the International Space Station KSC-00pp0853

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, an overhead crane lifts the forw...

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, an overhead crane lifts the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) to mate it with the components seen at lower left in the photo. The forward section of each boos... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A "towback" vehicle slowly pulls shuttle Endeavour from the Shuttle Landing Facility to Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A purge unit that pumps conditioned air into a shuttle after landing is connected to Endeavour's aft end. In the background is the massive Vehicle Assembly Building. Once inside the processing facility, Endeavour will be prepared for future public display. Endeavour's final return from space completed the 16-day, 6.5-million-mile STS-134 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 2:34:51 a.m. EDT, followed by nose gear touchdown at 2:35:04 a.m., and wheelstop at 2:35:36 a.m. Endeavour and its crew delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) and the Express Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) to the International Space Station. AMS will help researchers understand the origin of the universe and search for evidence of dark matter, strange matter and antimatter from the station. ELC-3 carried spare parts that will sustain station operations once the shuttles are retired from service. STS-134 was the 25th and final flight for Endeavour, which spent 299 days in space, orbited Earth 4,671 times and traveled 122,883,151 miles. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-4273

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A "towback" vehicle slowly pulls shuttle Endea...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A "towback" vehicle slowly pulls shuttle Endeavour from the Shuttle Landing Facility to Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A purge unit that pumps c... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Endeavour rolls to a stop on the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final time. Main gear touchdown was at 2:34:51 a.m. EDT, followed by nose gear touchdown at 2:35:04 a.m., and wheelstop at 2:35:36 a.m. On board are STS-134 Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Greg H. Johnson, and Mission Specialists Mike Fincke, Drew Feustel, Greg Chamitoff and the European Space Agency's Roberto Vittori. STS-134 delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) and the Express Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) to the International Space Station. AMS will help researchers understand the origin of the universe and search for evidence of dark matter, strange matter and antimatter from the station. ELC-3 carried spare parts that will sustain station operations once the shuttles are retired from service. STS-134 was the 25th and final flight for Endeavour, which has spent 299 days in space, orbited Earth 4,671 times and traveled 122,883,151 miles. Photo credit: NASA/Kevin O'Connell KSC-2011-4192

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Endeavour rolls to a stop on the...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Endeavour rolls to a stop on the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final time. Main gear touchdown was at 2:34:51 a.m. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A cloud rises from Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the wheels of space shuttle Discovery contact the pavement. Landing of Discovery March 28, 2009, completed the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey on the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown was at 3:13:17 p.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 3:13:40 p.m. and wheels stop was at 3:14:45 p.m. Discovery delivered the final pair of large power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment. The mission was the 28th flight to the station, the 36th flight of Discovery and the 125th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 70th landing at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Cooper KSC-2009-2359

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A cloud rises from Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A cloud rises from Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the wheels of space shuttle Discovery contact the pavement. Landing of Discovery March 28, 2009, completed the 13... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After a nearly 5.3 million mile round trip to the International Space Station, space shuttle Atlantis slows down with the aid of a drag chute after landing on Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The shuttle landed on orbit 202 to complete the 13-day STS-122 mission. Main gear touchdown was 9:07:10 a.m. Nose gear touchdown was 9:07:20 a.m. Wheel stop was at 9:08:08 a.m. Mission elapsed time was 12 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes and 44 seconds. During the mission, Atlantis' crew installed the new Columbus laboratory, leaving a larger space station and one with increased science capabilities. The Columbus Research Module adds nearly 1,000 cubic feet of habitable volume and affords room for 10 experiment racks, each an independent science lab. Photo credit: NASA/Kenny Allen, Robert Murray KSC-08pp0440

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After a nearly 5.3 million mile round tr...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After a nearly 5.3 million mile round trip to the International Space Station, space shuttle Atlantis slows down with the aid of a drag chute after landing on Runway 15 of the Shut... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – With space shuttle Discovery as backdrop on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of the STS-119 crew address the workers and guests on hand to welcome them home following their 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey on the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. From left are Commander Lee Archambault, Pilot Tony Antonelli and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold and John Phillips. Main gear touchdown was at 3:13:17 p.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 3:13:40 p.m. and wheels stop was at 3:14:45 p.m. Discovery delivered the final pair of large power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment. The mission was the 28th flight to the station, the 36th flight of Discovery and the 125th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 70th landing at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2402

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – With space shuttle Discovery as backdrop on Run...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – With space shuttle Discovery as backdrop on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of the STS-119 crew address the workers and guests on hand to welcome them home fo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Mission Specialist John Phillips answers a question from the media during a news conference following landing of the space shuttle Discovery STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown was at 3:13:17 p.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 3:13:40 p.m. and wheels stop was at 3:14:45 p.m. Discovery delivered the final pair of large power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment. The mission was the 28th flight to the station, the 36th flight of Discovery and the 125th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 70th landing at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2412

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Mission Specialist John Phillips answers a question from the media during a news conference following landing of the space shuttle Disco... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- NASA Administrator Mike Griffin poses for a portrait with representatives of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, under space shuttle Endeavour. On the left is JAXA Director Kuniaki Shiraki, and on the right is JAXA Vice President Kaoru Mamiya. JAXA is one of NASA's international partners in the development and operation of the International Space Station. The shuttle landed on Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility at the end of the STS-123 mission, a 16-day flight to the International Space Station. This was the 16th night landing at Kennedy. The main landing gear touched down at 8:39:08 p.m. EDT. The nose landing gear touched down at 8:39:17 p.m. and wheel stop was at 8:40:41 p.m. The mission completed nearly 6.6 million miles. The landing was on the second opportunity after the first was waved off due to unstable weather in the Kennedy Space Center area. The STS-123 mission delivered the first segment of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency's two-armed robotic system, known as Dextre. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd0819

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- NASA Administrator Mike Griffin poses for a p...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- NASA Administrator Mike Griffin poses for a portrait with representatives of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, under space shuttle Endeavour. On the left is JAXA Directo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Touchdown of space shuttle Discovery on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center disturbs the resident wildlife, unaware that the conclusion of the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey on the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station was imminent on this lazy Florida afternoon. Main gear touchdown was at 3:13:17 p.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 3:13:40 p.m. and wheels stop was at 3:14:45 p.m. Discovery delivered the final pair of large power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment. The mission was the 28th flight to the station, the 36th flight of Discovery and the 125th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 70th landing at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Michael Kerley KSC-2009-2356

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Touchdown of space shuttle Discovery on Runway ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Touchdown of space shuttle Discovery on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center disturbs the resident wildlife, unaware that the conclusion of the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey on the... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The STS-98 crew poses for a group photo on the 215-foot level of the Fixed Service Structure at Launch Pad 39A. Dressed in their orange launch and entry suits are (left to right) Commander Ken Cockrell, Mission Specialist Marsha Ivins, Pilot Mark Polansky and Mission Specialists Robert Curbeam and Thomas Jones. Behind them can be seen the white nose cone of a solid rocket booster and the orange external tank on Space Shuttle Atlantis. The crew is taking part in emergency egress training and a simulated launch countdown as part of Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities. STS-98 is the seventh construction flight to the International Space Station, carrying as payload the U.S. Lab Destiny, a key element in the construction of the ISS. Launch of STS-98 is scheduled for Jan. 19 at 2:11 a.m. EST KSC01pp0058

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The STS-98 crew poses for a group photo ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The STS-98 crew poses for a group photo on the 215-foot level of the Fixed Service Structure at Launch Pad 39A. Dressed in their orange launch and entry suits are (left to right) C... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 (SAEF-2) make final adjustments on the nose fairing surrounding the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-I (TDRS-I). The second in a new series of telemetry satellites, TDRS-I replenishes the existing on-orbit fleet of six spacecraft. The TDRS System is the primary source of space-to-ground voice, data and telemetry for the Space Shuttle. It also provides communications with the International Space Station and scientific spacecraft in low-Earth orbit such as the Hubble Space Telescope. This new advanced series of satellites will extend the availability of TDRS communications services until about 2017. Launch of TDRS-I is scheduled for March 8 aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIA rocket from Pad 36-A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station KSC-02pd0174

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers in the Spacecraft Assembly and E...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers in the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 (SAEF-2) make final adjustments on the nose fairing surrounding the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-I (TDRS-I). Th... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- It is time for reflection at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as employees accompany space shuttle Atlantis as it is slowly towed from the Shuttle Landing Facility to an orbiter processing facility. Atlantis' final return from space at 5:57 a.m. EDT concluded the STS-135 mission, secured the space shuttle fleet's place in history and brought a close to America's Space Shuttle Program. Main gear touchdown was at 5:57:00 a.m. EDT, followed by nose gear touchdown at 5:57:20 a.m., and wheelstop at 5:57:54 a.m. On board were STS-135 Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim. On the 37th shuttle mission to the International Space Station, STS-135 delivered the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module filled with more than 9,400 pounds of spare parts, equipment and supplies that will sustain station operations for the next year. STS-135 was the 33rd and final flight for Atlantis, which has spent 307 days in space, orbited Earth 4,848 times and traveled 125,935,769 miles, and also the final mission of the Space Shuttle Program. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-5812

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- It is time for reflection at NASA's Kennedy Sp...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- It is time for reflection at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as employees accompany space shuttle Atlantis as it is slowly towed from the Shuttle Landing Facility to an orbiter pr... More

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) sits on top of the rest of the stack for mating. The forward section of each booster, from nose cap to forward skirt contains avionics, a sequencer, forward separation motors, a nose cone separation system, drogue and main parachutes, a recovery beacon, a recovery light, a parachute camera on selected flights and a range safety system. Each SRB weighs approximately 1.3 million pounds at launch. The SRB is part of the stack for Space Shuttle Discovery and the STS-92 mission, scheduled for launch Oct. 5, from Launch Pad 39A, on the fifth flight to the International Space Station KSC-00pp0858

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the forward section of a solid r...

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) sits on top of the rest of the stack for mating. The forward section of each booster, from nose cap to forward skirt con... More

STS119-S-059 (28 March 2009) --- Space Shuttle Discovery approaches landing on Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, concluding the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey of the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. Onboard are NASA astronauts Lee Archambault, commander; Tony Antonelli, pilot; Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold, Joseph Acaba, John Phillips and Sandra Magnus, all mission specialists. The main landing gear touched down at 3:13:17 p.m. (EDT) on March 28, 2009. The nose gear touched down at 3:13:40 p.m. and wheels stop was at 3:14:45 p.m. During the mission, Discovery?s crew delivered and installed the final pair of large power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment to the starboard, or right, side of the station and accomplished important tasks to prepare the station for future upgrades and additions later this year. sts119-s-059

STS119-S-059 (28 March 2009) --- Space Shuttle Discovery approaches la...

STS119-S-059 (28 March 2009) --- Space Shuttle Discovery approaches landing on Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, concluding the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey of the ST... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility, completing the 4.5-million-mile journey to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown occurred at 11:43:40 a.m. EDT; nose gear touchdown at 11:43:48 a.m.; and wheel stop at 11:44:35 a.m. Mission elapsed time was 10:19:58:44. Mission STS-112 expanded the size of the Station with the addition of the S1 truss segment. The returning crew of Atlantis are Commander Jeffrey Ashby, Pilot Pamela Melroy, and Mission Specialists David Wolf, Piers Sellers, Sandra Magnus and Fyodor Yurchikhin. This landing is the 60th at KSC in the history of the Shuttle program. KSC-02pd1581

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches the r...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility, completing the 4.5-million-mile journey to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown occu... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Xenon lights guide space shuttle Atlantis down on the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final time. Securing the space shuttle fleet's place in history, Atlantis marked the 26th nighttime landing of NASA's Space Shuttle Program and the 78th landing at Kennedy. Main gear touchdown was at 5:57:00 a.m. EDT, followed by nose gear touchdown at 5:57:20 a.m., and wheelstop at 5:57:54 a.m. On board are STS-135 Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim. On the 37th shuttle mission to the International Space Station, STS-135 delivered more than 9,400 pounds of spare parts, equipment and supplies in the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module that will sustain station operations for the next year. STS-135 was the 33rd and final flight for Atlantis, which has spent 307 days in space, orbited Earth 4,848 times and traveled 125,935,769 miles. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux KSC-2011-5631

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Xenon lights guide space shuttle Atlantis down...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Xenon lights guide space shuttle Atlantis down on the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final time. Securing the space shuttle fleet'... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In Orbiter Processing Facility 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparations are under way to install the chin panel on space shuttle Atlantis. The chin panel is a semicircular-shaped section of reinforced carbon-carbon that fits under the shuttle's nose cap and is part of its thermal protection system. Atlantis is next slated to deliver an Integrated Cargo Carrier and Russian-built Mini Research Module to the International Space Station on the STS-132 mission. The second in a series of new pressurized components for Russia, the module will be permanently attached to the Zarya module. Three spacewalks are planned to store spare components outside the station, including six spare batteries, a boom assembly for the Ku-band antenna and spares for the Canadian Dextre robotic arm extension. A radiator, airlock and European robotic arm for the Russian Multi-purpose Laboratory Module also are payloads on the flight. Launch is targeted for May 14, 2010. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-2010-1243

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In Orbiter Processing Facility 1 at NASA's Kenn...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In Orbiter Processing Facility 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparations are under way to install the chin panel on space shuttle Atlantis. The chin panel is a semicirc... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Xenon lights help lead space shuttle Endeavour home to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Endeavour landed for the final time on the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 15, marking the 25th night landing of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. Main gear touchdown was at 2:34:51 a.m. EDT, followed by nose gear touchdown at 2:35:04 a.m., and wheelstop at 2:35:36 a.m. On board are STS-134 Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Greg H. Johnson, and Mission Specialists Mike Fincke, Drew Feustel, Greg Chamitoff and the European Space Agency's Roberto Vittori. STS-134 delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) and the Express Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) to the International Space Station. AMS will help researchers understand the origin of the universe and search for evidence of dark matter, strange matter and antimatter from the station. ELC-3 carried spare parts that will sustain station operations once the shuttles are retired from service. STS-134 was the 25th and final flight for Endeavour, which has spent 299 days in space, orbited Earth 4,671 times and traveled 122,883,151 miles. Photo credit: NASA/Tom Farrar and Tony Gray KSC-2011-4239

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Xenon lights help lead space shuttle Endeavour...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Xenon lights help lead space shuttle Endeavour home to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Endeavour landed for the final time on the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 15, marking th... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery drops from the blue sky preparing to land on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. This 69th landing at Kennedy ended the STS-124 mission, a 14-day flight to the International Space Station. On the ground before the runway are the Ball-Bar Light System, which provide a visual reference to provide inner glide slope information. The main landing gear touched down at 11:15:19 a.m. EDT. The nose landing gear touched down at 11:15:30 a.m. and wheel stop was at 11:16:19 a.m. The mission completed 5.7 million miles. The STS-124 mission delivered the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's large Japanese Pressurized Module and its remote manipulator system to the space station. Photo credit: NASA/Kevin O'Connell,Scott Haun KSC-08pd1706

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery drops from the blue s...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery drops from the blue sky preparing to land on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. This 69th landing at Kennedy ended the STS-124 mission, a 14-day flight t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – STS-127 Commander Mark Polansky kneels next to the landing gear on space shuttle Endeavour. He and other crew members returned to Earth on Endeavour to complete the 16-day, 6.5-million mile journey on the STS-127 mission to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown was at 10:48:08 a.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 10:48:21 a.m. and wheels stop was at 10:49:13 a.m. Endeavour delivered the Japanese Experiment Module's Exposed Facility and the Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section to the International Space Station. The mission was the 29th flight to the station, the 23rd flight of Endeavour and the 127th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 71st landing at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-4319

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – STS-127 Commander Mark Polansky kneels next to...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – STS-127 Commander Mark Polansky kneels next to the landing gear on space shuttle Endeavour. He and other crew members returned to Earth on Endeavour to complete the 16-day, 6.5-million ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- STS-123 Commander Dominic Gorie, in front, and Mission Specialist Mike Foreman exit the crew transport vehicle at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The vehicle provides a "white room" in which a physician performs a brief preliminary medical examination of the crew members before they leave the shuttle. Space shuttle Endeavour landed on Runway 15 to end the STS-123 mission, a 16-day flight to the International Space Station. This was the 16th night landing at Kennedy. The main landing gear touched down at 8:39:08 p.m. EDT. The nose landing gear touched down at 8:39:17 p.m. and wheel stop was at 8:40:41 p.m. The mission completed nearly 6.6 million miles. The landing was on the second opportunity after the first was waved off due to unstable weather in the Kennedy Space Center area. The STS-123 mission delivered the first segment of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency's two-armed robotic system, known as Dextre. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd0820

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- STS-123 Commander Dominic Gorie, in front, an...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- STS-123 Commander Dominic Gorie, in front, and Mission Specialist Mike Foreman exit the crew transport vehicle at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The vehicle prov... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida prepare to lift and load the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, Robonaut 2, or R2, into the Permanent Multipurpose Module, or PMM. Packed inside a launch box called SLEEPR, or Structural Launch Enclosure to Effectively Protect Robonaut, R2 will be placed in the in the same launch orientation as space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 crew members -- facing toward the nose of the shuttle with the back taking all the weight. Although R2 will initially only participate in operational tests, upgrades could eventually allow the robot to realize its true purpose -- helping spacewalking astronauts with tasks outside the International Space Station. STS-133 is targeted to launch Nov. 1. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin KSC-2010-4441

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Space Station Processing Fa...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida prepare to lift and load the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, Robonaut 2, or R2, into t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Flaming rockets propel Space Shuttle Atlantis off Launch Pad 39B for a rendezvous with the International Space Station on mission STS-115. In the background is the Atlantic Ocean. Appearing above the nose of the orbiter is the end of the gaseous vent line that leads from the hood, or beanie cap, which has been moved away from the shuttle for liftoff. Liftoff was on-time at 11:14:55 a.m. EDT. After several launch attempts were scrubbed due to weather and technical concerns, this launch was executed perfectly. Mission STS-115 is the 116th space shuttle flight, the 27th flight for orbiter Atlantis, and the 19th U.S. flight to the International Space Station. During the mission, Atlantis' astronauts will deliver and install the 17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment on the station. The girder-like truss includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics and will provide one-fourth of the total power-generation capability for the completed station. STS-115 is scheduled to last 11 days with a planned landing at KSC KSC-06pp2147

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Flaming rockets propel Space Shuttle Atl...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Flaming rockets propel Space Shuttle Atlantis off Launch Pad 39B for a rendezvous with the International Space Station on mission STS-115. In the background is the Atlantic Ocean.... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the drag chute trailing space shuttle Atlantis slows the near-invisible shuttle for landing on Runway 15 one final time. Securing the space shuttle fleet's place in history, Atlantis marked the 26th nighttime landing of NASA's Space Shuttle Program and the 78th landing at Kennedy. Main gear touchdown was at 5:57:00 a.m. EDT, followed by nose gear touchdown at 5:57:20 a.m., and wheelstop at 5:57:54 a.m. On board are STS-135 Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim. On the 37th shuttle mission to the International Space Station, STS-135 delivered the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module filled with more than 9,400 pounds of spare parts, equipment and supplies that will sustain station operations for the next year. STS-135 was the 33rd and final flight for Atlantis, which has spent 307 days in space, orbited Earth 4,848 times and traveled 125,935,769 miles. STS-135 also was the final mission of the Space Shuttle Program. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Kenny Allen KSC-2011-5729

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kenn...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the drag chute trailing space shuttle Atlantis slows the near-invisible shuttle for landing on Runway 15 one fi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft opens to reveal the /2000/78-00.htm">Joint Airlock Module</a> the gateway from which crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will enter and exit the 470-ton orbiting research facility. The airlock was transported from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The airlock will be transported to the Operations and Checkout Building in the KSC industrial area where it will undergo vacuum chamber testing. It will then be moved to the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) for further prelaunch preparation and checkout. The massive, spindle-shaped airlock is 20 feet long, has a diameter of 13 feet at its widest point, and weighs six and a half tons. It was manufactured at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center by the Huntsville division of The Boeing Company. The Space Shuttle Atlantis will carry the airlock to orbit on mission STS-104, the tenth International Space Station flight, currently targeted for liftoff in May 2001 KSC00pp1344

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft opens to reveal the kscpao/release/2000/78-00.htm">Joint Airlock Module</a> the gateway from which crew members aboard the International Spa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle workers await landing of shuttle Atlantis on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After 11 days in space, Atlantis completed the 4.5-million mile STS-129 mission on orbit 171. Main gear touchdown was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m. Aboard Atlantis are Commander Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr.; and Expedition 20 and 21 Flight Engineer Nicole Stott who spent 87 days aboard the International Space Station. STS-129 is the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight on the manifest. On STS-129, the crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year. For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-6583

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle workers await landing of shuttle ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle workers await landing of shuttle Atlantis on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After 11 days in space, Atlantis completed... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery approaches Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to complete the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey on the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown was at 3:13:17 p.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 3:13:40 p.m. and wheels stop was at 3:14:45 p.m. Discovery delivered the final pair of large power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment. The mission was the 28th flight to the station, the 36th flight of Discovery and the 125th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 70th landing at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Kevin O'Connell KSC-2009-2374

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery approaches Runway 15 at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery approaches Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to complete the 13-day, 5.3-million mile journey on the STS-119 mission to the International Space S... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The STS-124 mission crew members head for their traditional walk-around space shuttle Discovery after landing on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, ending a 14-day mission to the International Space Station. At left is Pilot Ken Ham, in center is Mission Specialist Karen Nyberg, followed by Mission Specialists Akihiko Hoshide and Ron Garan. At right are Mission Specialist Mike Fossum and Commander Mark Kelly. Discovery's main landing gear touched down at 11:15:19 a.m. EDT on Runway 15. The nose landing gear touched down at 11:15:30 a.m. and wheel stop was at 11:16:19 a.m. The mission completed 5.7 million miles. The STS-124 mission delivered the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's large Japanese Pressurized Module and its remote manipulator system to the space station. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd1722

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The STS-124 mission crew members head for the...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The STS-124 mission crew members head for their traditional walk-around space shuttle Discovery after landing on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, ending a 14-day mission to th... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh waves from the cockpit of space shuttle Atlantis following a picture-perfect landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After 11 days in space, Atlantis completed the 4.5-million mile STS-129 mission on orbit 171. Main gear touchdown was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m. Other crew members aboard Atlantis are Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr.; and Expedition 20 and 21 Flight Engineer Nicole Stott who spent 87 days aboard the International Space Station. STS-129 is the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight on the manifest. On STS-129, the crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year. For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Jeff Wolfe KSC-2009-6594

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh waves from...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh waves from the cockpit of space shuttle Atlantis following a picture-perfect landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Standing next to the nose of Atlantis, returned from its successful mission STS-110 to the International Space Station, Commander Michael Bloomfield talks with NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. Atlantis landed on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility after 171 orbits, completing a 10-day, 19-hour, 4.5-million mile journey. Main gear touchdown was 12:26:57 p.m. EDT, nose gear touchdown was 12:27:09 p.m. and wheel stop was 12:28:07 p.m. The crew delivered and installed the S0 truss, which will support cooling and power systems essential for the addition of future international laboratories, on the Station KSC-02pd0523

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Standing next to the nose of Atlantis, ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Standing next to the nose of Atlantis, returned from its successful mission STS-110 to the International Space Station, Commander Michael Bloomfield talks with NASA Administrator ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Space Shuttle Endeavour is surrounded by vehicles from the landing convoy on runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the conclusion of the 13-day, 18-hour, 48-minute, 5.74-million mile STS-113 mission to the International Space Station. The landing convoy's purpose is to safe the vehicle and provide support for the disembarking crew and experiments. Main gear touchdown was at 2:37:12 p.m. EST, nose gear touchdown was at 2:37:23 p.m., and wheel stop was at 2:38:25 p.m. Poor weather conditions thwarted landing opportunities until a fourth day, the first time in Shuttle program history that a landing has been waved off for three consecutive days. The vehicle carries the STS-113 crew, Commander James Wetherbee, Pilot Paul Lockhart and Mission Specialists Michael Lopez-Alegria and John Herrington, as well as the returning Expedition Five crew, Commander Valeri Korzun, ISS Science Officer Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Sergei Treschev. The installation of the P1 truss on the International Space Station was accomplished during the mission. KSC-02pd1875

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Space Shuttle Endeavour is surrounded by...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Space Shuttle Endeavour is surrounded by vehicles from the landing convoy on runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the conclusion of the 13-day, 18-hour, 48-minute, 5.74-mil... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After traveling nearly 5.3 million miles on mission STS-118, Endeavour touches down on runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Space Shuttle Endeavour crew, led by Commander Scott Kelly, completes a 13-day mission to the International Space Station. The STS-118 mission began Aug. 8 and installed a new gyroscope, an external spare parts platform and another truss segment to the expanding station. Endeavour's main gear touched down at 12:32:16 p.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 12:32:29 p.m. and wheel stop was at 12:33:20 p.m. Endeavour landed on orbit 201. STS-118 was the 119th space shuttle flight, the 22nd flight to the station, the 20th flight for Endeavour and the second of four missions planned for 2007. This was the 65th landing of an orbiter at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Scott Haun KSC-07pd2330

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After traveling nearly 5.3 million miles...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After traveling nearly 5.3 million miles on mission STS-118, Endeavour touches down on runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Space Shuttle Endeavour crew, led by Commander ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- NASA managers examine the thermal protection system tile under space shuttle Endeavour on Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility at the end of the STS-123 mission, a 16-day flight to the International Space Station. From left are Mission Management Team Chairman LeRoy Cain, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, Kennedy Space Center Director Bill Parsons and NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale. This was the 16th night landing at Kennedy. The main landing gear touched down at 8:39:08 p.m. EDT. The nose landing gear touched down at 8:39:17 p.m. and wheel stop was at 8:40:41 p.m. The mission completed nearly 6.6 million miles. The landing was on the second opportunity after the first was waved off due to unstable weather in the Kennedy Space Center area. The STS-123 mission delivered the first segment of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency's two-armed robotic system, known as Dextre. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd0818

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- NASA managers examine the thermal protection ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- NASA managers examine the thermal protection system tile under space shuttle Endeavour on Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility at the end of the STS-123 mission,... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Veiled in darkness, space shuttle Atlantis nears touchdown for the final time on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Securing the space shuttle fleet's place in history, Atlantis marked the 26th nighttime landing of NASA's Space Shuttle Program and the 78th landing at Kennedy. Main gear touchdown was at 5:57:00 a.m. EDT, followed by nose gear touchdown at 5:57:20 a.m., and wheelstop at 5:57:54 a.m. On board are STS-135 Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialists Sandra Magnus and Rex Walheim. On the 37th shuttle mission to the International Space Station, STS-135 delivered the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module filled with more than 9,400 pounds of spare parts, equipment and supplies that will sustain station operations for the next year. STS-135 was the 33rd and final flight for Atlantis, which has spent 307 days in space, orbited Earth 4,848 times and traveled 125,935,769 miles. STS-135 also was the final mission of the Space Shuttle Program. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Chad Baumer KSC-2011-5707

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Veiled in darkness, space shuttle Atlantis nea...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Veiled in darkness, space shuttle Atlantis nears touchdown for the final time on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Securing the space shuttle fleet's place in history,... More

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) is lowered onto the rest of the stack for mating. The forward section of each booster, from nose cap to forward skirt contains avionics, a sequencer, forward separation motors, a nose cone separation system, drogue and main parachutes, a recovery beacon, a recovery light, a parachute camera on selected flights and a range safety system. Each SRB weighs approximately 1.3 million pounds at launch. The SRB is part of the stack for Space Shuttle Discovery and the STS-92 mission, scheduled for launch Oct. 5, from Launch Pad 39A, on the fifth flight to the International Space Station KSC-00pp0857

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the forward section of a solid r...

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) is lowered onto the rest of the stack for mating. The forward section of each booster, from nose cap to forward skirt co... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Integrated Equipment Assembly (IEA), one of two major components of the Starboard 6 (S6) truss segment for the International Space Station (ISS), arrives at the Shuttle Landing Facility aboard NASA's Super Guppy cargo airplane. The customized four-engine aricraft has a 24-foot-diameter fuselage and a foldaway nose enabling it to load and transport oversize cargo. The IEA will be joined to its companion piece, the Long Spacer, before launch early in 2004. The S6 truss segment will be the 11th and final piece of the Station's Integrated Truss Structure and will support the fourth and final set of solar arrays, batteries, and electronics. KSC-02pd1905

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Integrated Equipment Assembly (IEA),...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Integrated Equipment Assembly (IEA), one of two major components of the Starboard 6 (S6) truss segment for the International Space Station (ISS), arrives at the Shuttle Landing... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Integrated Equipment Assembly (IEA), one of two major components of the Starboard 6 (S6) truss segment for the International Space Station (ISS), is revealed inside NASA's Super Guppy cargo airplane following its arrival at the Shuttle Landing Facility. The customized four-engine aricraft has a 24-foot-diameter fuselage and a foldaway nose enabling it to load and transport oversize cargo. The IEA will be joined to its companion piece, the Long Spacer, before launch early in 2004. The S6 truss segment will be the 11th and final piece of the Station's Integrated Truss Structure and will support the fourth and final set of solar arrays, batteries, and electronics. KSC-02pd1908

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Integrated Equipment Assembly (IEA),...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Integrated Equipment Assembly (IEA), one of two major components of the Starboard 6 (S6) truss segment for the International Space Station (ISS), is revealed inside NASA's Supe... More

S114E6194 - STS-114 - Discovery forward nose cone

S114E6194 - STS-114 - Discovery forward nose cone

The original finding aid described this as: Description: This picture of the forward section of the Space Shuttle Discovery docked to the International Space Station was taken by Japan Aerospace Exploration Ag... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With the nose of the Airbus Beluga transporter open, KSC workers prepare to unload the canister holding the first Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), at the Shuttle Landing Facility. Dubbed Leonardo, the module is destined for use in constructing the International Space Station (ISS). Leonardo is scheduled to be launched on STS-100 in December 1999. The modules are being provided by Alenia Aerospazio, in Italy, and will be operated by NASA and supported by ASI, the Italian space agency. The MPLMs will be carried in the payload bay of a Shuttle orbiter, and will provide storage and additional work space for up to two astronauts when docked to the ISS. The second MPLM, to be handed over in April 1999, is named Raffaello. A third module, to be named Donatello, is due to be delivered in October 2000 for launch in January 2001 KSC-98pc884

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With the nose of the Airbus Beluga trans...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With the nose of the Airbus Beluga transporter open, KSC workers prepare to unload the canister holding the first Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), at the Shuttle Landing Faci... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With its drag chute fully deployed, Space Shuttle Discovery lands on KSC's brightly lighted Shuttle Landing Facility runway 15, completing the 9-day, 19-hour, 13-minute and 1-second long STS-96 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 2:02:43 a.m. EDT June 6 , landing on orbit 154 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:02:59 a.m., and the wheels stopped at 2:03:39 a.m. At the controls were Commander Kent V. Rominger and Pilot Rick D. Husband. Also onboard the orbiter were Mission Specialists Ellen Ochoa (Ph.D.), Tamara E. Jernigan (Ph.D.), Daniel T. Barry (M.D., Ph.D.), Julie Payette and Valery Ivanovich Tokarev. Payette represents the Canadian Space Agency and Tokarev the Russian Space Agency. The crew returned from the second flight to the International Space Station on a logistics and resupply mission. This was the 94th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Discovery, also marking the 47th landing at KSC, the 24th in the last 25 missions, 11th at night, and the 18th consecutive landing in Florida KSC-99pp0634

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With its drag chute fully deployed, Spac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With its drag chute fully deployed, Space Shuttle Discovery lands on KSC's brightly lighted Shuttle Landing Facility runway 15, completing the 9-day, 19-hour, 13-minute and 1-secon... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Bright lights at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility runway 15 illuminate the landing of Space Shuttle Discovery, which completes the 9-day, 19-hour, 13-minute and 1-second long STS-96 mission. A contrail streams from the wing. Main gear touchdown was at 2:02:43 a.m. EDT June 6 , landing on orbit 154 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:02:59 a.m., and the wheels stopped at 2:03:39 a.m. At the controls were Commander Kent V. Rominger and Pilot Rick D. Husband. Also onboard the orbiter were Mission Specialists Ellen Ochoa (Ph.D.), Tamara E. Jernigan (Ph.D.), Daniel T. Barry (M.D., Ph.D.), Julie Payette and Valery Ivanovich Tokarev. Payette represents the Canadian Space Agency and Tokarev the Russian Space Agency. The crew returned from the second flight to the International Space Station on a logistics and resupply mission. This was the 94th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Discovery, also marking the 47th at KSC, the 24th in the last 25 missions, 11th at night, and the 18th consecutive landing in Florida KSC-99pp0633

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Bright lights at KSC's Shuttle Landing F...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Bright lights at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility runway 15 illuminate the landing of Space Shuttle Discovery, which completes the 9-day, 19-hour, 13-minute and 1-second long STS-96 ... More

After landing on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15, the Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery is ventilated via the hose running underneath. At right is the crew hatch access vehicle by which the Shuttle crew exits to the astronaut transporter van. Discovery touched down at 2:02:43 a.m. EDT to complete the 9-day, 19-hour, 13-minute and 1-second long STS-96 mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:02:59 a.m., and the wheels stopped at 2:03:39 a.m. At the controls were Commander Kent V. Rominger and Pilot Rick D. Husband. Also onboard the orbiter were Mission Specialists Ellen Ochoa (Ph.D.), Tamara E. Jernigan (Ph.D.), Daniel T. Barry (M.D., Ph.D.), Julie Payette and Valery Ivanovich Tokarev. Payette represents the Canadian Space Agency and Tokarev the Russian Space Agency. The crew returned from the second flight to the International Space Station on a logistics and resupply mission. This was the 94th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Discovery, also marking the 47th at KSC, the 24th in the last 25 missions, 11th at night, and the 18th consecutive landing in Florida KSC-99pp0630

After landing on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15, the Space S...

After landing on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15, the Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery is ventilated via the hose running underneath. At right is the crew hatch access vehicle by which the Shuttle crew ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Beneath a bright moon, the landing of Space Shuttle Discovery at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility runway 15 is reflected in the nearby canal. This 47th Shuttle landing at KSC completes the 9-day, 19-hour, 13-minute and 1-second long STS-96 mission. It is the 94th flight in the Space Shuttle program, the 26th for Discovery, the 11th night landing, and the 18th consecutive landing in Florida. Main gear touchdown was at 2:02:43 a.m. EDT June 6 , landing on orbit 154 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:02:59 a.m., and the wheels stopped at 2:03:39 a.m. At the controls were Commander Kent V. Rominger and Pilot Rick D. Husband. Also onboard the orbiter were Mission Specialists Ellen Ochoa (Ph.D.), Tamara E. Jernigan (Ph.D.), Daniel T. Barry (M.D., Ph.D.), Julie Payette and Valery Ivanovich Tokarev. Payette represents the Canadian Space Agency and Tokarev the Russian Space Agency. The crew returned from the second flight to the International Space Station on a logistics and resupply mission KSC-99pp0632

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Beneath a bright moon, the landing of Sp...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Beneath a bright moon, the landing of Space Shuttle Discovery at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility runway 15 is reflected in the nearby canal. This 47th Shuttle landing at KSC complet... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With a contrail streaming off its wing, the Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery nears touchdown on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 19-hour, 13-minute and 1-second long STS-96 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 2:02:43 a.m. EDT June 6 , landing on orbit 154 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:02:59 a.m., and the wheels stopped at 2:03:39 a.m. At the controls are Commander Kent V. Rominger and Pilot Rick D. Husband. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Ellen Ochoa (Ph.D.), Tamara E. Jernigan (Ph.D.), Daniel T. Barry (M.D., Ph.D.), Julie Payette and Valery Ivanovich Tokarev. Payette represents the Canadian Space Agency and Tokarev the Russian Space Agency. The crew are returning from the second flight to the International Space Station on a logistics and resupply mission. This was the 94th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Discovery, also marking the 47th at KSC, the 24th in the last 25 missions, 11th at night, and the 18th consecutive landing in Florida KSC-99pp0628

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With a contrail streaming off its wing, ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With a contrail streaming off its wing, the Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery nears touchdown on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 19-hour, 13-minute an... More

NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin (left) and Director of Space Shuttle Operations Bill Readdy look at the underside of the orbiter Discovery after the end of mission STS-96. Discovery touched down on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 19-hour, 13-minute and 1-second long mission. Main gear touchdown was at 2:02:43 a.m. EDT June 6 , landing on orbit 154 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:02:59 a.m., and the wheels stopped at 2:03:39 a.m. At the controls were Commander Kent V. Rominger and Pilot Rick D. Husband. Also onboard the orbiter were Mission Specialists Ellen Ochoa (Ph.D.), Tamara E. Jernigan (Ph.D.), Daniel T. Barry (M.D., Ph.D.), Julie Payette and Valery Ivanovich Tokarev. Payette represents the Canadian Space Agency and Tokarev the Russian Space Agency. The crew returned from the second flight to the International Space Station on a logistics and resupply mission. This was the 94th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Discovery, also marking the 47th at KSC, the 24th in the last 25 missions, 11th at night, and the 18th consecutive landing in Florida KSC-99pp0631

NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin (left) and Director of Space Shuttle ...

NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin (left) and Director of Space Shuttle Operations Bill Readdy look at the underside of the orbiter Discovery after the end of mission STS-96. Discovery touched down on KSC's Shutt... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA's Super Guppy airplane, with the International Space Station's (ISS) S1 truss aboard, arrives at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility from Marshall Space Flight Center. Manufactured by the Boeing Co. in Huntington Beach, Calif., this component of the ISS is the first starboard (right-side) truss segment, whose main job is providing structural support for the orbiting research facility's radiator panels that cool the Space Station's complex power system. The S1 truss segment also will house communications systems, external experiment positions and other subsystems. Primarily constructed of aluminum, the truss segment is 45 feet long, 15 feet wide and 6 feet tall. When fully outfitted, it will weigh 31,137 pounds. The truss is slated for flight in 2001. The Super Guppy, with its 25-foot diameter fuselage designed to handle oversized loads, is well prepared to transport the truss and other ISS segments. Loading the Guppy is easy because of the unique "fold-away" nose of the aircraft that opens 110 degrees for cargo loading. A system of rails in the cargo compartment, used with either Guppy pallets or fixtures designed for specific cargo, makes cargo loading simple and efficient. Rollers mounted in the rails allow pallets or fixtures to be moved by an electric winch mounted beneath the cargo floor. Automatic hydraulic lock pins in each rail secure the pallet for flight. The truss is to be moved to the Operations and Checkout Building KSC-99pp1180

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA's Super Guppy airplane, with the In...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA's Super Guppy airplane, with the International Space Station's (ISS) S1 truss aboard, arrives at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility from Marshall Space Flight Center. Manufactured... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA's Super Guppy airplane, with the International Space Station's (ISS) S1 truss aboard, rolls to a stop at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. Manufactured by the Boeing Co. in Huntington Beach, Calif., this component of the ISS is the first starboard (right-side) truss segment, whose main job is providing structural support for the orbiting research facility's radiator panels that cool the Space Station's complex power system. The S1 truss segment also will house communications systems, external experiment positions and other subsystems. Primarily constructed of aluminum, the truss segment is 45 feet long, 15 feet wide and 6 feet tall. When fully outfitted, it will weigh 31,137 pounds. The truss is slated for flight in 2001. The Super Guppy, with its 25-foot diameter fuselage designed to handle oversized loads, is well prepared to transport the truss and other ISS segments. Loading the Guppy is easy because of the unique "fold-away" nose of the aircraft that opens 110 degrees for cargo loading. A system of rails in the cargo compartment, used with either Guppy pallets or fixtures designed for specific cargo, makes cargo loading simple and efficient. Rollers mounted in the rails allow pallets or fixtures to be moved by an electric winch mounted beneath the cargo floor. Automatic hydraulic lock pins in each rail secure the pallet for flight. The truss is to be transferred to the Operations and Checkout Building KSC-99pp1181

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA's Super Guppy airplane, with the In...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA's Super Guppy airplane, with the International Space Station's (ISS) S1 truss aboard, rolls to a stop at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. Manufactured by the Boeing Co. in Hunt... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, workers attach cranes to the S1 truss, a segment of the International Space Station, to lift the truss to a payload transporter for its transfer to the Operations and Checkout Building. Manufactured by the Boeing Co. in Huntington Beach, Calif., this component of the ISS is the first starboard (right-side) truss segment, whose main job is providing structural support for the orbiting research facility's radiator panels that cool the Space Station's complex power system. The S1 truss segment also will house communications systems, external experiment positions and other subsystems. Primarily constructed of aluminum, the truss segment is 45 feet long, 15 feet wide and 6 feet tall. When fully outfitted, it will weigh 31,137 pounds. The truss is slated for flight in 2001. The truss arrived at KSC aboard NASA's Super Guppy, with a 25-foot diameter fuselage designed to handle oversized loads. Loading the Guppy is easy because of the unique "fold-away" nose of the aircraft that opens 110 degrees for cargo loading. A system of rails in the cargo compartment, used with either Guppy pallets or fixtures designed for specific cargo, makes cargo loading simple and efficient. Rollers mounted in the rails allow pallets or fixtures to be moved by an electric winch mounted beneath the cargo floor. Automatic hydraulic lock pins in each rail secure the pallet for flight KSC-99pp1185

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, workers...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, workers attach cranes to the S1 truss, a segment of the International Space Station, to lift the truss to a payload transporter for its transfer to... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the newly arrived S1 truss, a segment of the International Space Station (ISS), is offloaded from NASA's Super Guppy aircraft. Manufactured by the Boeing Co. in Huntington Beach, Calif., this component of the ISS is the first starboard (right-side) truss segment, whose main job is providing structural support for the orbiting research facility's radiator panels that cool the Space Station's complex power system. The S1 truss segment also will house communications systems, external experiment positions and other subsystems. Primarily constructed of aluminum, the truss segment is 45 feet long, 15 feet wide and 6 feet tall. When fully outfitted, it will weigh 31,137 pounds. The truss is slated for flight in 2001. The Super Guppy, with its 25-foot diameter fuselage designed to handle oversized loads, is well prepared to transport the truss and other ISS segments. Loading the Guppy is easy because of the unique "fold-away" nose of the aircraft that opens 110 degrees for cargo loading. A system of rails in the cargo compartment, used with either Guppy pallets or fixtures designed for specific cargo, makes cargo loading simple and efficient. Rollers mounted in the rails allow pallets or fixtures to be moved by an electric winch mounted beneath the cargo floor. Automatic hydraulic lock pins in each rail secure the pallet for flight. The truss is being transferred to the Operations and Checkout Building KSC-99pp1183

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the new...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the newly arrived S1 truss, a segment of the International Space Station (ISS), is offloaded from NASA's Super Guppy aircraft. Manufactured by the ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the S1 truss, a segment of the International Space Station, is moved away from the Super Guppy that brought it to KSC from Marshall Space Flight Center. Manufactured by the Boeing Co. in Huntington Beach, Calif., this component of the ISS is the first starboard (right-side) truss segment, whose main job is providing structural support for the orbiting research facility's radiator panels that cool the Space Station's complex power system. The S1 truss segment also will house communications systems, external experiment positions and other subsystems. Primarily constructed of aluminum, the truss segment is 45 feet long, 15 feet wide and 6 feet tall. When fully outfitted, it will weigh 31,137 pounds. The truss is slated for flight in 2001. The Super Guppy, with its 25-foot diameter fuselage designed to handle oversized loads, is well prepared to transport the truss and other ISS segments. Loading the Guppy is easy because of the unique "fold-away" nose of the aircraft that opens 110 degrees for cargo loading. A system of rails in the cargo compartment, used with either Guppy pallets or fixtures designed for specific cargo, makes cargo loading simple and efficient. Rollers mounted in the rails allow pallets or fixtures to be moved by an electric winch mounted beneath the cargo floor. Automatic hydraulic lock pins in each rail secure the pallet for flight. The truss is being transferred to the Operations and Checkout Building KSC-99pp1184

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the S1 ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the S1 truss, a segment of the International Space Station, is moved away from the Super Guppy that brought it to KSC from Marshall Space Flight Ce... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility, NASA's Super Guppy opens to reveal its cargo, the International Space Station's (ISS) S1 truss. Manufactured by the Boeing Co. in Huntington Beach, Calif., this component of the ISS is the first starboard (right-side) truss segment, whose main job is providing structural support for the orbiting research facility's radiator panels that cool the Space Station's complex power system. The S1 truss segment also will house communications systems, external experiment positions and other subsystems. Primarily constructed of aluminum, the truss segment is 45 feet long, 15 feet wide and 6 feet tall. When fully outfitted, it will weigh 31,137 pounds. The truss is slated for flight in 2001. The Super Guppy, with its 25-foot diameter fuselage designed to handle oversized loads, is well prepared to transport the truss and other ISS segments. Loading the Guppy is easy because of the unique "fold-away" nose of the aircraft that opens 110 degrees for cargo loading. A system of rails in the cargo compartment, used with either Guppy pallets or fixtures designed for specific cargo, makes cargo loading simple and efficient. Rollers mounted in the rails allow pallets or fixtures to be moved by an electric winch mounted beneath the cargo floor. Automatic hydraulic lock pins in each rail secure the pallet for flight. The truss is to be transferred to the Operations and Checkout Building KSC-99pp1182

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility, NASA'...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility, NASA's Super Guppy opens to reveal its cargo, the International Space Station's (ISS) S1 truss. Manufactured by the Boeing Co. in Huntington Beac... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, workers watch as the nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft opens to reveal its cargo, a component for the International Space Station (ISS), the port-side P3 truss. The truss is scheduled to be added to the ISS on mission STS-115 in 2002 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis. The second port truss segment, P3 will be attached to the first port truss segment (P1). The P3 truss will be taken to the Operations and Checkout Building. KSC-99pp1352

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landin...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, workers watch as the nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft opens to reveal its cargo, a component for the International Space Stat... More

With its cargo off-loaded (background), the nose cone of the Super Guppy aircraft is closed. The cargo is a P3 port-side truss, a segment of the International Space Station (ISS). The truss is scheduled to be added to the ISS on mission STS-115 in 2002 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis. The second port truss segment, P3 will be attached to the first port truss segment (P1). The P3 truss will be taken to the Operations and Checkout Building. KSC-99pp1355

With its cargo off-loaded (background), the nose cone of the Super Gup...

With its cargo off-loaded (background), the nose cone of the Super Guppy aircraft is closed. The cargo is a P3 port-side truss, a segment of the International Space Station (ISS). The truss is scheduled to be a... More

STS097-376-027 - STS-097 - Views of the nose of Endeavour taken during the third EVA of STS-97

STS097-376-027 - STS-097 - Views of the nose of Endeavour taken during...

The original finding aid described this as: Description: Views of the nose of Space Shuttle Endeavour taken from Node 1 / Unity during the third Extravehicular Activity (EVA) of the STS-97 mission. This pictur... More

STS097-376-026 - STS-097 - Views of the nose of Endeavour taken during the third EVA of STS-97

STS097-376-026 - STS-097 - Views of the nose of Endeavour taken during...

The original finding aid described this as: Description: Views of the nose of Space Shuttle Endeavour taken from Node 1 / Unity during the third Extravehicular Activity (EVA) of the STS-97 mission. This pictur... More

With its drag chute billowing behind, Space Shuttle Atlantis is silhouetted against the bright lights on Runway 15, Shuttle Landing Facility, as it rolls to a stop. Two rainbows appear above the lights. The landing of Atlantis completed the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott 'Doc' Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. KSC-00PP-0681

With its drag chute billowing behind, Space Shuttle Atlantis is silhou...

With its drag chute billowing behind, Space Shuttle Atlantis is silhouetted against the bright lights on Runway 15, Shuttle Landing Facility, as it rolls to a stop. Two rainbows appear above the lights. The lan... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The landing lights on Runway 15 cast a glow as Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC00pp0675

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The landing lights on Runway 15 cast a g...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The landing lights on Runway 15 cast a glow as Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 m... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate the night sky as Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott "Doc" Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC00padig022

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate the night sky ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate the night sky as Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights spotlight Space Shuttle Atlantis as it nears touchdown on Runway 15 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC-00padig027

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights spotlight Space Shuttle A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights spotlight Space Shuttle Atlantis as it nears touchdown on Runway 15 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 miss... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Seen in the landing lights, an illuminated Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC00pp0674

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Seen in the landing lights, an illuminat...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Seen in the landing lights, an illuminated Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate Space Shuttle Atlantis as it approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC00padig023

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate Space Shuttle ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate Space Shuttle Atlantis as it approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 missio... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights spotlight Space Shuttle Atlantis as it nears touchdown on Runway 15 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC00padig027

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights spotlight Space Shuttle A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights spotlight Space Shuttle Atlantis as it nears touchdown on Runway 15 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 miss... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- At KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, the lights on Runway 15 reveal Space Shuttle Atlantis as it nears touchdown, completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC00pp0676

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- At KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, the l...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- At KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, the lights on Runway 15 reveal Space Shuttle Atlantis as it nears touchdown, completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis seems to capture the spotlight as it nears Runway 15 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC-00padig026

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis seems to capture ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis seems to capture the spotlight as it nears Runway 15 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Glowing in the lights from Runway 15, Space Shuttle Atlantis nears touchdown at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC-00padig025

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Glowing in the lights from Runway 15, Sp...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Glowing in the lights from Runway 15, Space Shuttle Atlantis nears touchdown at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. A... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Standing in front of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility, the STS-101 crew waves at the crowd gathered to welcome the astronauts home. From left are Mission specialists Yury Usachev of Russia, James S. Voss, Mary Ellen Weber, Jeffrey N. Williams; Commander James D. Halsell Jr.; Mission Specialist Susan J. Helms; and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. The crew returned from the third flight to the International Space Station, providing maintenance and carrying supplies for future missions. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights KSC-00pp0678

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Standing in front of Space Shuttle Atlan...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Standing in front of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility, the STS-101 crew waves at the crowd gathered to welcome the astronauts home. From left are... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis seems to capture the spotlight as it nears Runway 15 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC00padig026

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis seems to capture ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis seems to capture the spotlight as it nears Runway 15 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Seen in the landing lights, an illuminated Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC-00pp0674

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Seen in the landing lights, an illuminat...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Seen in the landing lights, an illuminated Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- At KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, the lights on Runway 15 reveal Space Shuttle Atlantis as it nears touchdown, completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC-00pp0676

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- At KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, the l...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- At KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, the lights on Runway 15 reveal Space Shuttle Atlantis as it nears touchdown, completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis glows from the landing lights as it nears touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott "Doc" Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21<sup>st</sup> for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC-00padig024

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis glows from the la...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis glows from the landing lights as it nears touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With its drag chute billowing behind, Space Shuttle Atlantis is silhouetted against the bright lights on Runway 15, Shuttle Landing Facility, as it rolls to a stop. Two rainbows appear above the lights. The landing of Atlantis completed the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights KSC-00pp0680

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With its drag chute billowing behind, Sp...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With its drag chute billowing behind, Space Shuttle Atlantis is silhouetted against the bright lights on Runway 15, Shuttle Landing Facility, as it rolls to a stop. Two rainbows ap... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Standing in front of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility, the STS-101 crew waves at the crowd gathered to welcome the astronauts home. From left are Mission specialists Yury Usachev of Russia, James S. Voss, Mary Ellen Weber, Jeffrey N. Williams; Commander James D. Halsell Jr.; Mission Specialist Susan J. Helms; and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. The crew returned from the third flight to the International Space Station, providing maintenance and carrying supplies for future missions. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights KSC00pp0678

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Standing in front of Space Shuttle Atlan...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Standing in front of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility, the STS-101 crew waves at the crowd gathered to welcome the astronauts home. From left are... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-101 Commander James D. Halsell Jr. gives a thumbs up after looking at the perfect wheel stop that straddles the center line on Runway 15 of KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility. The other crew members standing at left are Mission Specialists Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms, Mary Ellen Weber; Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz; and Mission Specialists James S. Voss and Yury Usachev. The STS-101 crew returned from the third flight to the International Space Station, providing maintenance and carrying supplies for future missions. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights KSC00pp0679

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-101 Commander James D. Halsell Jr. g...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-101 Commander James D. Halsell Jr. gives a thumbs up after looking at the perfect wheel stop that straddles the center line on Runway 15 of KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility. The ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate Space Shuttle Atlantis as it approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC-00padig023

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate Space Shuttle ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate Space Shuttle Atlantis as it approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 missio... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Smoke swirls up from Runway 15 as Space Shuttle Atlantis’ wheels touch down, completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC-00pp0677

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Smoke swirls up from Runway 15 as Space ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Smoke swirls up from Runway 15 as Space Shuttle Atlantis’ wheels touch down, completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Ha... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The landing lights on Runway 15 cast a glow as Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC-00pp0675

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The landing lights on Runway 15 cast a g...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The landing lights on Runway 15 cast a glow as Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 m... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate the night sky as Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott "Doc" Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC-00padig022

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate the night sky ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Landing lights illuminate the night sky as Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches touchdown on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 to complete the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With its drag chute billowing behind, Space Shuttle Atlantis is silhouetted against the bright lights on Runway 15, Shuttle Landing Facility, as it rolls to a stop. Two rainbows appear above the lights. The landing of Atlantis completed the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights KSC00pp0680

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With its drag chute billowing behind, Sp...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- With its drag chute billowing behind, Space Shuttle Atlantis is silhouetted against the bright lights on Runway 15, Shuttle Landing Facility, as it rolls to a stop. Two rainbows ap... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Glowing in the lights from Runway 15, Space Shuttle Atlantis nears touchdown at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC00padig025

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Glowing in the lights from Runway 15, Sp...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Glowing in the lights from Runway 15, Space Shuttle Atlantis nears touchdown at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. A... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Smoke swirls up from Runway 15 as Space Shuttle Atlantis’ wheels touch down, completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Halsell Jr. and Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz. Also onboard the orbiter are Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, James S. Voss, Jeffrey N. Williams, Susan J. Helms and Yury Usachev of Russia. The crew is returning from the third flight to the International Space Station. This was the 98th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 21st for Atlantis, also marking the 51st landing at KSC, the 22nd consecutive landing at KSC, the 14th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 29th in the last 30 Shuttle flights. Main gear touchdown was at 2:20:17 a.m. EDT May 29 , landing on orbit 155 of the mission. Nose gear touchdown was at 2:20:30 a.m. EDT, and wheel stop at 2:21:19 a.m. EDT KSC00pp0677

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Smoke swirls up from Runway 15 as Space ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Smoke swirls up from Runway 15 as Space Shuttle Atlantis’ wheels touch down, completing the 9-day, 20-hour, 9-minute-long STS-101 mission. At the controls are Commander James D. Ha... More

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) is close to the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It is being lifted to mate with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket, which is already stacked, for launch on June 29. The satellite will augment the TDRS system’s existing Sand Ku-band frequencies by adding Ka-band capability. TDRS will serve as the sole means of continuous, high-data-rate communication with the Space Shuttle, with the International Space Station upon its completion, and with dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low earth orbit KSC00pp0765

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-...

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) is close to the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It is being lifted to mate with the Atlas II... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a view taken near the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the nose fairing with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) inside is hoisted up the tower by the overhead crane (left). The fairing will be mated with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket, which is already stacked, for launch on June 29. The satellite will augment the TDRS system's existing S- and Ku-band frequencies by adding Ka-band capability. TDRS will serve as the sole means of continuous, high-data-rate communications with the Space Shuttle, with the International Space Station upon its completion, and with dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low-earth orbit. KSC-00pp0764

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a view taken near the top of the laun...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a view taken near the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the nose fairing with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) inside is... More

An overhead crane is positioned on the nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) in order to lift it up the tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It will be mated with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket, which is already stacked, for launch on June 29. The satellite will augment the TDRS system’s existing Sand Ku-band frequencies by adding Ka-band capability. TDRS will serve as the sole means of continuous, high-data-rate communication with the Space Shuttle, with the International Space Station upon its completion, and with dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low earth orbit KSC-00pp0761

An overhead crane is positioned on the nose fairing covering the Track...

An overhead crane is positioned on the nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) in order to lift it up the tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It will be mated... More

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) nears the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It will be mated with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket, which is already stacked (barely visible behind the framework on lower left), for launch on June 29. The satellite will augment the TDRS system’s existing Sand Ku-band frequencies by adding Ka-band capability. TDRS will serve as the sole means of continuous, high-data-rate communication with the Space Shuttle, with the International Space Station upon its completion, and with dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low earth orbit KSC00pp0763

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-...

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) nears the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It will be mated with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket... More

An overhead crane is positioned on the nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) in order to lift it up the tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It will be mated with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket, which is already stacked, for launch on June 29. The satellite will augment the TDRS system’s existing Sand Ku-band frequencies by adding Ka-band capability. TDRS will serve as the sole means of continuous, high-data-rate communication with the Space Shuttle, with the International Space Station upon its completion, and with dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low earth orbit KSC00pp0761

An overhead crane is positioned on the nose fairing covering the Track...

An overhead crane is positioned on the nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) in order to lift it up the tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It will be mated... More

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) is close to the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It is being lifted to mate with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket, which is already stacked, for launch on June 29. The satellite will augment the TDRS system’s existing Sand Ku-band frequencies by adding Ka-band capability. TDRS will serve as the sole means of continuous, high-data-rate communication with the Space Shuttle, with the International Space Station upon its completion, and with dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low earth orbit KSC-00pp0765

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-...

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) is close to the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It is being lifted to mate with the Atlas II... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a view taken near the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the nose fairing with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) inside is hoisted up the tower by the overhead crane (left). The fairing will be mated with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket, which is already stacked, for launch on June 29. The satellite will augment the TDRS system's existing S- and Ku-band frequencies by adding Ka-band capability. TDRS will serve as the sole means of continuous, high-data-rate communications with the Space Shuttle, with the International Space Station upon its completion, and with dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low-earth orbit. KSC00pp0764

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a view taken near the top of the laun...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a view taken near the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the nose fairing with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) inside is... More

At Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers (at left) oversee the lifting of the nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H). Once at the top, the fairing will be mated with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket, which is already stacked, for launch on June 29. The satellite will augment the TDRS system’s existing Sand Ku-band frequencies by adding Ka-band capability. TDRS will serve as the sole means of continuous, high-data-rate communication with the Space Shuttle, with the International Space Station upon its completion, and with dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low earth orbit KSC00pp0762

At Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers (at left)...

At Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers (at left) oversee the lifting of the nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H). Once at the top, the fairing will be mated... More

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) nears the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It will be mated with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket, which is already stacked (barely visible behind the framework on lower left), for launch on June 29. The satellite will augment the TDRS system’s existing Sand Ku-band frequencies by adding Ka-band capability. TDRS will serve as the sole means of continuous, high-data-rate communication with the Space Shuttle, with the International Space Station upon its completion, and with dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low earth orbit KSC-00pp0763

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-...

The nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H) nears the top of the launch tower at Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It will be mated with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket... More

At Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers (at left) oversee the lifting of the nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H). Once at the top, the fairing will be mated with the Atlas IIA/Centaur rocket, which is already stacked, for launch on June 29. The satellite will augment the TDRS system’s existing Sand Ku-band frequencies by adding Ka-band capability. TDRS will serve as the sole means of continuous, high-data-rate communication with the Space Shuttle, with the International Space Station upon its completion, and with dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low earth orbit KSC-00pp0762

At Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers (at left)...

At Launch Pad 36A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, workers (at left) oversee the lifting of the nose fairing covering the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-H). Once at the top, the fairing will be mated... More

Workers in the Vehicle Assembly Building check the connections on the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) being mated to the rest of the stack below it. The forward section of each booster, from nose cap to forward skirt contains avionics, a sequencer, forward separation motors, a nose cone separation system, drogue and main parachutes, a recovery beacon, a recovery light, a parachute camera on selected flights and a range safety system. Each SRB weighs approximately 1.3 million pounds at launch. The SRB is part of the stack for Space Shuttle Discovery and the STS-92 mission, scheduled for launch Oct. 5, from Launch Pad 39A, on the fifth flight to the International Space Station. Payloads on the mission include the Z-1 truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter-3, components of the Space Station KSC-00pp0860

Workers in the Vehicle Assembly Building check the connections on the ...

Workers in the Vehicle Assembly Building check the connections on the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) being mated to the rest of the stack below it. The forward section of each booster, from nos... More

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, an overhead crane centers the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) above the rest of the stack it will be mated to. The forward section of each booster, from nose cap to forward skirt contains avionics, a sequencer, forward separation motors, a nose cone separation system, drogue and main parachutes, a recovery beacon, a recovery light, a parachute camera on selected flights and a range safety system. Each SRB weighs approximately 1.3 million pounds at launch. The SRB is part of the stack for Space Shuttle Discovery and the STS-92 mission, scheduled for launch Oct. 5, from Launch Pad 39A, on the fifth flight to the International Space Station KSC00pp0855

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, an overhead crane centers the fo...

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, an overhead crane centers the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) above the rest of the stack it will be mated to. The forward section of each booster, from nos... More

Workers in the Vehicle Assembly Building check the connections on the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) being mated to the rest of the stack below it. The forward section of each booster, from nose cap to forward skirt contains avionics, a sequencer, forward separation motors, a nose cone separation system, drogue and main parachutes, a recovery beacon, a recovery light, a parachute camera on selected flights and a range safety system. Each SRB weighs approximately 1.3 million pounds at launch. The SRB is part of the stack for Space Shuttle Discovery and the STS-92 mission, scheduled for launch Oct. 5, from Launch Pad 39A, on the fifth flight to the International Space Station. Payloads on the mission include the Z-1 truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter-3, components of the Space Station KSC-00pp0859

Workers in the Vehicle Assembly Building check the connections on the ...

Workers in the Vehicle Assembly Building check the connections on the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) being mated to the rest of the stack below it. The forward section of each booster, from nos... More

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) is lowered onto the rest of the stack for mating. The forward section of each booster, from nose cap to forward skirt contains avionics, a sequencer, forward separation motors, a nose cone separation system, drogue and main parachutes, a recovery beacon, a recovery light, a parachute camera on selected flights and a range safety system. Each SRB weighs approximately 1.3 million pounds at launch. The SRB is part of the stack for Space Shuttle Discovery and the STS-92 mission, scheduled for launch Oct. 5, from Launch Pad 39A, on the fifth flight to the International Space Station KSC00pp0857

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the forward section of a solid r...

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the forward section of a solid rocket booster (SRB) is lowered onto the rest of the stack for mating. The forward section of each booster, from nose cap to forward skirt co... More

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