
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The tracks of the crawler-transporter are visible on the crawlerway (foreground) leading to Launch Pad 39B after the 4-mile journey of Space Shuttle Atlantis, which sits on the pad. At right is the 290-foot high, 300,000- gallon water tank that aids in sound suppression during launch. The water releases just prior to the ignition of the shuttle engines and flows through 7-foot-diameter pipes for about 20 seconds, pouring into 16 nozzles atop the flame deflectors and from outlets in the main engines exhaust hole in the mobile launcher platform. The slow speed of the crawler results in a 6-hour trek to the pad approximately 4 miles away. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 27 for an 11-day mission to the International Space Station. The STS-115 crew of six astronauts will continue construction of the station and install their cargo, the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder
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NASA ID
KSC-06pd1716
Date Created
August 2, 2006
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Kennedy Space Center, FL
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STS-35 Columbia, OV-102, passes STS-38 Atlantis, OV-104, heading to Pad 39A
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STS-27 Atlantis, OV-104, ET/SRB mating operations at KSC VAB
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STS-36 Atlantis, OV-104, leaves VAB during its rollout to KSC LC Pad 39A
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STS-37 Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, lifts off from KSC LC Pad
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