NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection

Atlantis on Pad 39A

An intricate network of lighting plays across the 130 foot high Rotating Service Structure [ http://www.nasa.gov…rotating-service-str ucture.html ] (RSS) in this dramatic night view of the Space Shuttle [ http://www.nasa.gov…index.html ] Atlantis on the Kennedy Space Center's launch pad [ http://www-pao.ksc.…padstoc.htm ] 39A. Seen here [ http://mediaarchive…detail.cfm?mediaid=3 4863 ] after rolling back before Thursday's shuttle launch [ http://www.nasa.gov…index.html ], the RSS provides pre-launch access to the orbiter [ http://www.nasa.gov…system_Orbiter.html ] and its payload. For this mission, STS-122 [ http://www.nasa.gov…shuttlemissions/sts1 22/index.html ], to the International Space Station [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…], Atlantis' payload is the European Space Agency's Columbus science laboratory [ http://www.esa.int/…]. During the mission, three space walks are planned to attach the Columbus lab. Atlantis is expected to dock with the space station today.

digg_url = 'http://apod.nasa.go v/apod/ap080209.html '; digg_skin = 'compact';

NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov/], Kim Shiflett [ http://mediaarchive…detail.cfm?mediaid=3 4863 ]

Columbus

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Washington, D.C.

Kennedy Space Center (KSC)

Space Shuttle Orbiter

International Space Station (ISS)

http://antwrp.gsfc.…

SPD-APOD-ap080209