Atlantis Rolls Again

The cavern's mouth yawns wide, ready to engulf Atlantis. Note the modification made to this Apollo era building's door to accomodate the Orbiter's vertical stabiliser.
I had to scramble over a muddy ditch to get this picture. To me the STOP sign symbolised the imminent cessation of the Space Shuttle programme.
Atlantis rolling towards what was at the time its final scheduled mission.
The upper of three red-covered Space Shuttle Main Engines is flanked by the two smaller Orbital Manoevering System engines, and even smaller attitude control thrusters.
The business end of Atlantis as it heads towards the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Safely inside the cavern.

We in the media pack were bussed back to the News Center at 9 am, then, an hour later back to the Atlantis. Finally, at 10:35 am, she rolled again, completing in ten minutes her journey into the cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building through one of its iconic side doors.

At several times during this rollover I was within 5 metres of the Atlantis, able to see clearly every wrinkle in its flexible thermal insulation blankets, every stain on the famous heat tiles, and the grubby marks around the crew entry hatch.

Previous page Diary Contents Next Page The Space Show Southern FM