Space Shuttle Discovery on Launch Pad 39B
May 2nd, 2005
Discovery (STS-114) sits on Pad 39B the week its May launch was postponed to the middle of July
Rotating Service Structure surrounds Discovery
Cathy, Jon, Lisa, and David are ready to undergo a launch pad operations overview
Discovery sits on a Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP)
Pad surface flame deflector trench
Protects the pad surface from intense heat of launch
Flame trench is 490ft long, 58ft wide & 40ft high
Two movable flame deflectors on each side of the flame trench
View through the MLP at the the launch stack
External Tank hydrogen vent line and access arm
The crew pose in front of the stack
Red boxes cover explosive nuts which release the SRBs from the pad at launch
Space Shuttle Main Engines and Tail of Discovery
The camera that broadcasts Space Shuttle Main Engine startup during launch
Close up of the three shuttle main engines
Jon, Lisa, David, and Cathy under the SSMEs
Launch Pad 39A off in the distance
Swamps and Atlantic Ocean off in the distance
Owl ball to scare away birds in front of the Sound Suppression Water System storage tank
Emergency Exit System down 1,200ft long wires
Eyeball level with the External Tank
It's a long way down there to bottom
David braves the bouncing scaffolding for a photo op
So, can you guess who's afraid of heights?
Reaction Control System on nose of Discovery
Lisa, Jon, and David control their reaction to being photographed
Forward single attachment point of the Shuttle to the External Tank
The reason why your glasses are roped to your head
GOX Vent Arm vents gaseous oxygen from top of External Tank when in use before launch
David out again on a ledge for a good shot
Favorite crew photo spot by the external tank
Checkout the slidewire emergency escape system
Three persons per basket down a 1,200ft wire to the emergency shelter bunker way below
Should we catch the elevator down or have a four person basket race to the shelter below?
Orbiter Access Arm (OAA) allows access to the orbiter crew hatch
The Astronaut's walkway to enter Discovery
The gang prepares to enter the "White Room"
Behold the pathway to Discovery!
Lisa and Cathy in the "White Room"
Jon and David pose at Discovery's hatch
David takes a shot of the interior of Discovery
Technicians work inside or perhaps are on break
Crawlerway leads back to the VAB 4.24 miles away
Crawler Transporter rests just outside the gate
Thrust Vector Control Hydraulic Servicing to SRB
Giant hinge supports the Rotating Service Structure
RSS provides access & protects the orbiter during changeout & servicing of payloads at the launch pad
The RSS rotates 120 degrees along a circular twin-rail track that crosses the flame trench
Crawler Transporters weigh 6 million lbs unloaded and each track shoe weighs 1 ton
At a max speed of 2mph, the crawler should not be able to run down the overview crew
The flattop vehicles are about 20ft high, 131ft long & 114ft wide, about the size of a baseball diamond
I told you we should have filled the tank!