These photos deserve a wide viewing audience: the amount of thought and engineering that goes into every launch is immense; each successful take-off represents the Mankind’s finest effort, and is a wonder to behold. External tank arrives by barge from Louisiana:

External tank approaches Vertical Assembly Building (VAB):

Removing external tank:

Preparing to lift the tank to vertical:

Lifting the tank:

Solid rockets are attached:

Orbiter: External tank with Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB):

Engines are attached to the shuttle in the Orbiter Processing Facility:

Shuttle in sling ready for lift in VAB:

Shuttle has been moved to VAB and will be attached to external tank:

Shuttle is attached:




Payload Preparation in Space Station Processing Facility:

Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM):

Payload carrier leaves Canister Rotation Facility:

Payload being moved to Launch Pad:

Lifting payload into position for insertion into “Discovery”
when it arrives at the pad:

Shuttle “Discovery” leaves VAB:

Trip to launch:
Length - 3 1/2 mi
Time - 6-8 hours
Arrow indicates the Launch Pad.

Crawler Control

“Discovery” arrives at Pad:

Ready for Launch:

Space Shuttle Columbia launching
 

Space Shuttle carrier
 

Space Shuttle Atlantis
 

 Atlantis on Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
 
B747 with Space Shuttle on it from above
 

Space Shuttle Enterprise Cologne
 

The Space Shuttle Columbia returning to KSC on a Boeing 747

Barksdale-shuttle-discovery

Space shuttle goose bay

Shuttle Atlantis heads home on a modified 747 (2007-07-01).

STS 117 overturned shuttle

Stumble it!