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Lifting of Atlantis From Horizontal to Vertical in the KSC Vehicle Assembly Building

By Marc Boucher

May 20, 2011

Filed under General Story

Lifting Atlantis from horizontal to vertical in the Vehicle Assembly Building prior to mating with external tank and solid rocket boosters for her last mission.

This past Wednesday the orbiter Atlantis was lifted and mated to her external tank and solid rocket boosters in preparation for her final flight and the programs last shuttle flight. A tentative date of July 8th at approximately 11:40 am EDT has been set for the last ever shuttle launch.

Lifting Atlantis from horizontal to vertical in the Vehicle Assembly Building prior to mating with external tank and solid rocket boosters for her last mission.
The process of going horizontal to vertical begins at around 1:30 pm EDT.

Lifting Atlantis from horizontal to vertical in the Vehicle Assembly Building prior to mating with external tank and solid rocket boosters for her last mission.
Once vertical it will be several hours before Atlantis is lifted upwards to where it will then be lowered to mate with the external tank and solid rocket boosters.

Lifting Atlantis from horizontal to vertical in the Vehicle Assembly Building prior to mating with external tank and solid rocket boosters for her last mission.
Going vertical from horizontal takes no more than 15 minutes once the procedure is started.

Lifting Atlantis from horizontal to vertical in the Vehicle Assembly Building prior to mating with external tank and solid rocket boosters for her last mission.
Looking down at the Atlantis before lifting to mate will begin several hours later.

Lifting Atlantis from horizontal to vertical in the Vehicle Assembly Building prior to mating with external tank and solid rocket boosters for her last mission.
Vehicles are moved into to place to remove the aft crane assembly before lifting to mate can occur.

Lifting Atlantis from horizontal to vertical in the Vehicle Assembly Building prior to mating with external tank and solid rocket boosters for her last mission.
The last external tank and solid boosters awaits Atlantis to be lifted and mated into place.

All photographs are copyright SpaceRef.

Marc Boucher

SpaceRef co-founder, entrepreneur, writer, podcaster, nature lover and deep thinker.

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