Sunday, April 15, 2012

At Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF), the orbiter Discovery is mated to NASA 905 on April 15, 2012.
NASA / Kim Shiflett

Discovery boards her ride for the U.S. capital... After mating operations were delayed yesterday due to gusty winds at Cape Canaveral, the orbiter Discovery was finally 'soft-mated' (that is, achieving an initial stage of capture) with her Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) around 8:15 AM, Pacific Daylight Time, this morning. Work will continue throughout the day to hard-mate Discovery to the SCA (officially designated as NASA 905) prior to them being towed away from the Mate-Demate Device at the Shuttle Landing Facility around 4 AM (PDT) tomorrow morning. NASA 905 will depart with Discovery from Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final time at 4 AM (PDT) this Tuesday (weather permitting)...embarking on a brief flight that will end with Discovery safely on the ground at Dulles International Airport before the Smithsonian takes ownership of the orbiter on April 19.

The orbiter Discovery is towed past NASA 905 on her way to the Mate-Demate Device at KSC's SLF, on April 14, 2012.
NASA / Tim Jacobs

At KSC's SLF, the orbiter Discovery is hoisted up into the Mate-Demate Device on April 15, 2012.
NASA / Kim Shiflett

At KSC's SLF, the orbiter Discovery is suspended in midair inside the Mate-Demate Device on April 15, 2012.
NASA / Dimitri Gerondidakis

At KSC's SLF, the orbiter Discovery is suspended in midair inside the Mate-Demate Device on April 15, 2012.
NASA / Kim Shiflet

At KSC's SLF, NASA 905 is finally positioned underneath the orbiter Discovery for mating on April 15, 2012.
NASA / Kim Shiflett
Posted by Richard Par at 11:15 AM
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)