The sun sets on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following rollback of the pad's rotating service structure, or RSS, from around space shuttle Atlantis. The rotating structure provides protected access to the shuttle for changeout and servicing of payloads at the pad.
The sun sets on Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida following rollback of the pad’s rotating service structure, or RSS, from around space shuttle Atlantis.
The rotating structure provides protected access to the shuttle for changeout and servicing of payloads at the pad.
After the RSS is rolled back, the orbiter is ready for fuel cell activation and external tank cryogenic propellant loading operations.
Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis
May 10, 2009