KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Solid Rocket Booster Assembly and Refurbishment Facility (ARF), Vernon Gibbs, with United Space Alliance, prepares the forward skirt of a solid rocket booster for installation of the parachute camera. Refurbishment and subassembly of Shuttle SRB hardware - primarily the forward and aft assemblies - is carried out in the ARF.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Jeff Thon, an SRB mechanic with United Space Alliance, is fitted with a harness to test a vertical solid rocket booster propellant grain inspection technique. Thon will be lowered inside a mockup of two segments of the SRBs. The inspection of segments is required as part of safety analysis.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - An area of the Vehicle Assembly Building is being prepared to store the debris collected from Space Shuttle Columbia. About 83,000 pieces were shipped to KSC during search and recovery efforts in East Texas.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) rests on a workstand during pre-assembly measurement activities. Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the JEM will enhance the unique research capabilities of the orbiting complex by providing an additional environment for astronauts to conduct science experiments.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Solid Rocket Booster Assembly and Refurbishment Facility (ARF), Donnie Cardigan, with United Space Alliance, installs the parachute camera on the solid rocket booster forward skirt. Refurbishment and subassembly of Shuttle SRB hardware - primarily the forward and aft assemblies - is carried out in the ARF.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, a technician takes readings for pre-assembly measurements on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the JEM will enhance the unique research capabilities of the orbiting complex by providing an additional environment for astronauts to conduct science experiments.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Expedition 6 Commander Ken Bowersox poses for a photo with KSC employees after his presentation about his mission and residence on the International Space Station from November 25, 2002, to May 3, 2003.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-115 Mission Specialist Joseph Tanner looks at the Exposed Facility Berthing Mechanism (EFBM) on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), after removing its cover. Equipment familiarization is a routine part of astronaut training and launch preparations.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - STS-83 Payload Commander Janice E. Voss prepares to enter the Space Shuttle Columbia at Launch Pad 39A after getting assistance from the White Room closeout crew that included Bob Saulnier (right).

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Solid Rocket Booster Assembly and Refurbishment Facility (ARF), Vernon Gibbs, with United Space Alliance, prepares the forward skirt of a solid rocket booster for installation of the parachute camera. Refurbishment and subassembly of Shuttle SRB hardware - primarily the forward and aft assemblies - is carried out in the ARF.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-117 Mission Specialist James Reilly works with equipment in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) as part of training for ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA). Equipment familiarization is a routine part of astronaut training and launch preparations.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - This view shows the tiles below the windshield on the orbiter Atlantis. A gap test is being performed on the tiles as part of return-to-flight activities. Atlantis is scheduled for mission STS-114, a return-to-flight test mission to the International Space Station.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - One of the featured displays at the KSC Visitor Complex is a genuine external tank with twin solid rocket boosters, seen here. The tank and boosters are paired with a full-size replica of a Space Shuttle Orbiter in the Shuttle Plaza.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At right, Mike Young and Les Hanks, with United Space Alliance, prepare a window on Atlantis for removal. The windows are being removed to inspect them for contaminants in the thermal seal. Atlantis has been undergoing routine maintenance in the Orbiter Processing Facility for Return to Flight, on mission STS-114.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) observatory is lowered to the ground and taken back to NASA Spacecraft Hangar AE. SIRTF will remain in the clean room at Hangar AE until it returns to the pad in early August.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, workers look down from spaces allotted for the main engines as the rear body flap is lifted for installation on the orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Expedition 6 Commander Ken Bowersox happily signs autographs for KSC employees after his presentation about his mission and residence on the International Space Station from November 25, 2002, to May 3, 2003.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in KSC's Vertical Processing Facility make final prelaunch prepartions to various payload elements that are part of the second Hubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing mission, STS-82. Liftoff is targeted Feb. 11 aboard Discovery with a crew of seven.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-115 Mission Specialist Joseph Tanner gets hands-on experience with the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Tanner and STS-117 Mission Specialist James Reilly are at KSC for equipment familiarization, a routine part of astronaut training and launch preparations.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-117 Mission Specialist James Reilly (left) and STS-115 Mission Specialist Joseph Tanner (right) look over the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Equipment familiarization is a routine part of astronaut training and launch preparations.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) observatory is lowered onto a transporter to be taken back to NASA Spacecraft Hangar AE. SIRTF will remain in the clean room at Hangar AE until it returns to the pad in early August.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-117 Mission Specialist James Reilly (center) and STS-115 Mission Specialist Joseph Tanner (right) talk with a worker about the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Equipment familiarization is a routine part of astronaut training and launch preparations.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, an actuator is set up on a table for a 3D digital scan. There are two actuators per engine on the Shuttle, one for pitch motion and one for yaw motion. The Space Shuttle Main Engine hydraulic servoactuators are used to gimbal the main engine.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-117 Mission Specialist James Reilly (left) and STS-115 Mission Specialist Joseph Tanner get hands-on experience with the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Reilly and Tanner are at KSC for equipment familiarization, a routine part of astronaut training and launch preparations.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - STS-81 Mission Specialist Jeff Wisoff prepares to enter the Space Shuttle Atlantis at Launch Pad 39B with help from White Room closeout crew members Danny Wyatt (center) and Al Rochford.

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