WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

In the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASAs Kennedy Space Center, a technician monitors the clearance of a Crawler-Transporter as it moves Space Shuttle Discovery out of high bay 3 to Launch Pad 39B, a 4-mile, 6-hour journey. First motion was at 1:58 a.m. EDT. The Space Shuttle rests on a Mobile Launcher Platform which sits atop the Crawler-Transporter. This is the second rollout of Discovery after being returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building for connection to an improved External Tank. Launch of Discovery on its Return to Flight mission STS-114 is targeted for a launch window extending from July 13 to July 31. During its 12-day mission, Discoverys seven-person crew will test new hardware and techniques to improve Shuttle safety, as well as deliver supplies to the International Space Station.