Explanation:
An intricate network of lighting plays across the 130 foot high
Rotating Service Structure
(RSS) in this dramatic night view of the
Space Shuttle Atlantis
on the Kennedy Space Center's
launch pad 39A.
Seen here
after rolling back before
Thursday's shuttle launch,
the RSS provides pre-launch access to
the orbiter and its payload.
For this mission,
STS-122, to the
International Space Station, Atlantis'
payload is the European Space Agency's
Columbus
science laboratory.
During the mission, three space walks are planned to attach
the Columbus lab.
Atlantis is expected to dock with the space station today.
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Mittlerweile hat sie angedockt. Schön: mit einigen Jahren Verspätung kommt das europäische Herzstück auch mal endlich dran. Unschön: der deutsche Astronaut ist glaubs krank geworden, aber der sollte eigentlich rausklettern, um den tonnenschweren Rugel zu montieren. Mal schauen wie sich's entwickelt.
