#sts-115

"In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA Kennedy Space Center, the orbiter Atlantis is lifted off the transporter. The orbiter will be raised to a vertical position and lifted up and over the cross-beam into high bay 1 and mated with the Solid Rocket Boosters and External Tank already stacked there on the Mobile Launcher Platform. Atlantis is the designated orbiter for Return to Flight mission STS-121. The lighted planning window for launch extends from Sept. 9 to Sept. 25."

Date: July 22, 2005

Footage from STS-48 (1991) and STS-115 (2006)

"The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis is almost in position in high bay 4 of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). It was towed from the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) to allow work to be performed in the bay that can only be accomplished while it is empty. Work scheduled in the processing facility includes annual validation of the bay's cranes, work platforms, lifting mechanisms, and jack stands. Atlantis will remain in the VAB for about 10 days, then return to the OPF as work resumes to prepare it for launch in September 2004 on the first return-to-flight mission, STS-114."

Date: November 5, 2003

STS-115 "Space Shuttle Atlantis rolls away from Bay 3 in the Vehicle Assembly Building to move it to Bay 1. There Atlantis will be demated with the external tank and solid rocket boosters in anticipation of its transfer to the Orbiter Processing Facility."

Date: February 25, 2003

"The orbiter Atlantis is backed away from the Vehicle Assembly Building for transfer back to the Orbiter Processing Facility. Atlantis spent 10 days in the VAB to allow work to be performed in the OPF that can only be accomplished while the bay is empty. Work included annual validation of the bay's cranes, work platforms, lifting mechanisms and jack stands. Work resumes to prepare Atlantis for launch in September 2004 on the first return-to-flight mission, STS-114."

Date: December 16, 2003

"The orbiter Atlantis, on top of the orbiter transporter, begins its turn after rolling out of the Orbiter Processing Facility, heading for the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). In the VAB it will be mated with the twin Solid Rocket Boosters and External Tank already stacked on the Mobile Launcher Platform. Atlantis is being readied for mission STS-121, the second Return to Flight mission to the International Space Station. This is Atlantis 27th space flight and the mission is the 18th flight to the Space Station. It is a Utilization and Logistics Flight. Launch is scheduled during a planning window between Sept. 9 and Sept. 24."

Date: July 22, 2005

"In the Orbiter Processing Facility, John Newport, with United Space Alliance, inspects the wing of the orbiter Atlantis before installing a spar. Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC) panels are mechanically attached to the wing with a series of floating joints spars to reduce loading on the panels caused by wing deflections. The aluminum and the metallic attachments are protected from exceeding temperature limits by internal insulation."

Date: September 4, 2003

"The Space Shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew launch at 11:15 a.m. (EDT) to begin the two-day journey to the International Space Station on the STS-115 mission. Atlantis is slated to dock with the station on Monday Sept. 11, 2006. During the 11-day mission, the STS-115 crew of six will resume construction of the station. The shuttle and station crews will work with ground teams to install a girder-like structure, known as the P3/P4 truss aboard the station. The 35,000-pound piece includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics. The arrays eventually will double the station's power capability."

Date: September 9, 2006