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.
See larger image


See larger image


Looking down the belly of Atlantis.
See larger image


The forward attach point under Atlantis' nose.
See larger image


See larger image


Close-up of the nose gear door seals.
See larger image


See larger image


Gazing up 525 feet.
See larger image


See larger image


See larger image


See larger image


Crew module access hatch.
See larger image


Port-side Forward Reaction Control System thrusters.
See larger image


See larger image


Two-cab for the OTS driving crew.
See larger image


Reinforced carbon carbon wing leading edge panels.
See larger image


See larger image


See larger image


Three replica space shuttle main engines.
See larger image


See larger image


See larger image


One of the Aft attach points between the spacecraft and transporter.
See larger image


Aft-starboard corner.
See larger image


OTS sports United Space Alliance and NASA logos.
See larger image


Atlantis anchored atop the OTS for the move.
See larger image


Fisheye shot.
See larger image


The OTS has 76 wheels.
See larger image


Modified "strongbacks" will help with opening the payload bay doors inside exhibit hall.
See larger image


Flight deck windows are covered for the move.
See larger image


Forward Reaction Control System.
See larger image


Atlantis in VAB high bay 4.
See larger image


Outside the $100 million exhibit hall.
See larger image


See larger image


One of the replica solid rocket boosters will be erected here.
See larger image


Workers affix siding on the building.
See larger image


Inside the building where Atlantis will be displayed.
See larger image


The gaseous oxygen vent hood from pad 39B will be exhibited in the building.
See larger image


Atlantis will be positioned nose-first in the hall.
See larger image


This unfinished wall is where Atlantis will enter Friday night.
See larger image


Construction of the final wall will begin immediately after Atlantis' arrival.
See larger image


See larger image


The attraction opens next July!
See larger image

Expedition 29 Patch
Space models