The eve of Atlantis' move to museum
Spaceflight Now captured views of the space shuttle Atlantis parked in storage at the Vehicle Assembly Building and at the orbiter's exhibit hall under construction at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Thursday. The ship will be transported to the display site on Friday.
See our coverage of Atlantis' delivery.
Photo credit: Walter Scriptunas II/Spaceflight Now
Atlantis ready to exit the VAB before sunrise Friday morning.
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Looking down the belly of Atlantis.
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The forward attach point under Atlantis' nose.
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Close-up of the nose gear door seals.
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Gazing up 525 feet.
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Crew module access hatch.
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Port-side Forward Reaction Control System thrusters.
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Two-cab for the OTS driving crew.
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Reinforced carbon carbon wing leading edge panels.
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Three replica space shuttle main engines.
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One of the Aft attach points between the spacecraft and transporter.
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Aft-starboard corner.
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OTS sports United Space Alliance and NASA logos.
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Atlantis anchored atop the OTS for the move.
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Fisheye shot.
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The OTS has 76 wheels.
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Modified "strongbacks" will help with opening the payload bay doors inside exhibit hall.
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Flight deck windows are covered for the move.
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Forward Reaction Control System.
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Atlantis in VAB high bay 4.
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Outside the $100 million exhibit hall.
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One of the replica solid rocket boosters will be erected here.
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Workers affix siding on the building.
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Inside the building where Atlantis will be displayed.
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The gaseous oxygen vent hood from pad 39B will be exhibited in the building.
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Atlantis will be positioned nose-first in the hall.
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This unfinished wall is where Atlantis will enter Friday night.
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Construction of the final wall will begin immediately after Atlantis' arrival.
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The attraction opens next July!
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