NASA Gallery

Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica, MISR Multi-angle Composite

NASA Terra satellite passed over the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica around Oct. 27, 2013, just days before...

KSC-08pd1982

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Under lights, the external tank for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble...

Mobile Launcher Back to Pad 39B

NASA’s mobile launcher (ML) atop crawler-transporter 2 moves along the crawlerway on Sept. 10, 2019, after spending...

Early Program Development

Engineers at one of MSFC's vacuum chambers begin testing a microthruster model. The purpose of these tests are to...

Mobile Launcher Back to Pad 39B

NASA’s mobile launcher (ML) atop crawler-transporter 2 moves along the crawlerway on Sept. 10, 2019, after spending...

Mobile Launcher Back to Pad 39B

NASA’s mobile launcher (ML) atop crawler-transporter 2 moves along the crawlerway on Sept. 10, 2019, after spending...

Mobile Launcher Back to Pad 39B

NASA’s mobile launcher (ML) atop crawler-transporter 2 moves along the crawlerway on Sept. 10, 2019, after spending...

Mobile Launcher Back to Pad 39B

The mobile launcher for NASA’s Artemis missions moves along the crawlerway on Sept. 10, 2019, after spending a week...

Mobile Launcher Back to Pad 39B

NASA’s mobile launcher (ML) atop crawler-transporter 2 moves along the crawlerway on Sept. 10, 2019, after spending...

Mobile Launcher Back to Pad 39B

NASA’s mobile launcher (ML) atop crawler-transporter 2 moves along the crawlerway on Sept. 10, 2019, after spending...

SLS Payload Adapter Manufactured, Prepared for Testing at NASA Marshall

These photos and videos show how NASA manufactured and prepared to transport the payload adapter in February inside...

SLS Payload Adapter Manufactured, Prepared for Testing at NASA Marshall photo 1

These photos and videos show how NASA manufactured and prepared to transport the payload adapter in February inside...

SLS Payload Adapter Manufactured, Prepared for Testing at NASA Marshall photo 4

These photos and videos show how NASA manufactured and prepared to transport the payload adapter in February inside...

SLS Payload Adapter Manufactured, Prepared for Testing at NASA Marshall photo 5

These photos and videos show how NASA manufactured and prepared to transport the payload adapter in February inside...

SLS Payload Adapter Manufactured, Prepared for Testing at NASA Marshall photo 3

These photos and videos show how NASA manufactured and prepared to transport the payload adapter in February inside...

SLS Payload Adapter Manufactured, Prepared for Testing at NASA Marshall photo 2

These photos and videos show how NASA manufactured and prepared to transport the payload adapter in February inside...

SLS Payload Adapter Manufactured, Prepared for Testing at NASA Marshall photo 7

These photos and videos show how NASA manufactured and prepared to transport the payload adapter in February inside...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A closeup of crawler-transporter (CT) number 2 shows the cab (left, above the tracks) that recently underwent modifications. The CT is transporting a Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) on a test run to the pad. The CT moves Space Shuttle vehicles, situated on the MLP, between the VAB and launch pad. Moving on four double-tracked crawlers, the CT uses a laser guidance system and a leveling system for the journey that keeps the top of a Space Shuttle vertical within plus- or minus-10 minutes of arc. The system enables the CT-MLP-Shuttle to negotiate the ramp leading to the launch pads and keep the load level. Unloaded, the CT weighs 6 million pounds. Seen on top of the MLP are two tail service masts that support the fluid, gas and electrical requirements of the orbiter’s liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen aft umbilicals.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Crawler-transporter (CT) number 2 nears the launch pad with a Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP) on top. After recent modifications to the cab and muffler system, the CT was taken on a test run. The CT moves Space Shuttle vehicles, situated on the MLP, between the VAB and launch pad. Moving on four double-tracked crawlers, the CT uses a laser guidance system and a leveling system for the journey that keeps the top of a Space Shuttle vertical within plus- or minus-10 minutes of arc. The system enables the CT-MLP-Shuttle to negotiate the ramp leading to the launch pads and keep the load level. Unloaded, the CT weighs 6 million pounds. Seen on top of the MLP are two tail service masts that support the fluid, gas and electrical requirements of the orbiter’s liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen aft umbilicals.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The crawler transporter slowly moves the Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP), carrying a set of twin solid rocket boosters, away from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in support of engineering analysis vibration tests on the crawler and MLP. On either side of the boosters on the horizon can be seen the two launch pads. The crawler is moving at various speeds up to 1 mph in an effort to achieve vibration data gathering goals as it leaves the VAB and then returns. The boosters are braced at the top for stability. The primary purpose of these rollout tests is to gather data to develop future maintenance requirements on the transport equipment and the flight hardware. Various parts of the MLP and crawler transporter have been instrumented with vibration data collection equipment.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A Kennedy Space Center technician inspects the shoes on one of eight tracks of a crawler-transporter (CT). The CT is moving Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP) number 3 with a set of twin solid rocket boosters bolted on top to the intersection in the crawlerway in support of the second engineering analysis vibration test on the crawler and MLP. The crawler is moving at various speeds up to 1 mph in an effort to achieve vibration data gathering goals as it leaves the VAB, travels toward Launch Pad 39A and then returns. The boosters are braced at the top for stability. The primary purpose of these rollout tests is to gather data to develop future maintenance requirements on the transport equipment and the flight hardware. Various parts of the MLP and crawler transporter have been instrumented with vibration data collection equipment.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A closeup of crawler-transportation (CT) number 2 shows the new muffler system on the vehicle. The CT also recently underwent modifications to the cab. The CT is transporting a Mobile Launch Platform (MLP). The CT moves Space Shuttle vehicles, situated on the MLP, between the VAB and launch pad. Moving on four double-tracked crawlers, the CT uses a laser guidance system and a leveling system for the journey that keeps the top of a Space Shuttle vertical within plus- or minus-10 minutes of arc. The system enables the CT-MLP-Shuttle to negotiate the ramp leading to the launch pads and keep the load level. Unloaded, the CT weighs 6 million pounds. Seen on top of the MLP are two tail service masts that support the fluid, gas and electrical requirements of the orbiter’s liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen aft umbilicals.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside the cab of crawler-transporter (CT) number 2, driver Sam Dove, with United Space Alliance, operates the vehicle on a test run to the launch pad. The CT recently underwent modifications to the cab. The CT is transporting a Mobile Launch Platform (MLP). The CT moves Space Shuttle vehicles, situated on the MLP, between the VAB and launch pad. Moving on four double-tracked crawlers, the CT uses a laser guidance system and a leveling system for the journey that keeps the top of a Space Shuttle vertical within plus- or minus-10 minutes of arc. The system enables the CT-MLP-Shuttle to negotiate the ramp leading to the launch pads and keep the load level. Unloaded, the CT weighs 6 million pounds. Seen on top of the MLP are two tail service masts that support the fluid, gas and electrical requirements of the orbiter’s liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen aft umbilicals.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A Kennedy Space Center technician monitors the performance of a crawler-transporter as it moves Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP) number 3, with a set of twin solid rocket boosters bolted atop, to the intersection in the crawlerway during the second engineering analysis vibration test on the crawler and MLP. The crawler is moving at various speeds up to 1 mph in an effort to achieve vibration data gathering goals as it leaves the VAB, travels toward Launch Pad 39A, and then returns. The boosters are braced at the top for stability. The primary purpose of these rollout tests is to gather data to develop future maintenance requirements on the transport equipment and the flight hardware. Various parts of the MLP and crawler transporter have been instrumented with vibration data collection equipment.