These photos deserve a wide viewing audience: the amount of thought and engineering that goes into every launch is immense; each successful take-off represents the Mankind's finest effort, and is a wonder to behold.
 
  
 
External tank arrives by barge from Louisiana:
 
 
 
 
External tank approaches Vertical Assembly Building (VAB):
  
 
Removing external tank:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preparing to lift the tank to vertical:
 
 
Lifting the tank:
 
 
Solid rockets are attached:
 
Orbiter: External tank with Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB):
 
 
Engines are attached to the shuttle in the Orbiter Processing Facility:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shuttle in sling ready for lift in VAB:
 
 
Shuttle has been moved to VAB and will be attached to external tank:
 
 
 
 
Shuttle is attached:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Payload Preparation in Space Station Processing Facility:
 
 
 
 
Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM):
 
 
Payload carrier leaves Canister Rotation Facility:
 
 
 
 
Payload being moved to Launch Pad:
 
 
 
 
Lifting payload into position for insertion into "Discovery" 
when it arrives at the pad:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shuttle "Discovery" leaves VAB:
 
 
 
 
Trip to launch: 
Length - 3 1/2 mi
Time - 6-8 hours
Arrow indicates the Launch Pad. 
 
 
 
 
Crawler Control
 
 
 
 
"Discovery" arrives at Pad:
 
 
Payload is also inside the Launch Pad:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ready for Launch:
 
 
We Have Lift Off !
 
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