KSC-2009-5320

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility 1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers monitor the progress of space shuttle Atlantis as it backs out of its hangar for its move to the Vehicle Assembly Building. The rollover began about 7 a.m. EDT and was complete at 8:25 a.m. when Atlantis was towed into the VAB's transfer aisle. Next, Atlantis will be lifted over a transom and lowered into the VAB's high bay 1, where it will be attached to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Rollout of the shuttle stack to Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39A, a significant milestone in launch processing activities, is planned for Oct. 13. Liftoff of Atlantis on its STS-129 mission to the International Space Station is targeted for 4:04 p.m. EST during a 10-minute launch window on Nov. 12. 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