KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, Executive Director of NASDA Koji Yamamoto (left) looks at the newly arrived Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)/pressurized module. Mr. Yamamoto is at KSC for a welcome ceremony involving the arrival of JEM.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in KSC's Vertical Processing Facility stow cable and adapters into a protective enclosure for the second Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, STS-82. Liftoff aboard Discovery is targeted Feb. 11 with a crew of seven.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, Dan Clark, with KSC Boeing, operates the camera for a 3D digital scan of the actuator on the table. 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 Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Gene Peavler works in the wheel area on the orbiter Discovery. The vehicle has undergone Orbiter Major Modifications in the past year. Discovery is scheduled to fly on mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A replica of a Space Shuttle orbiter is on exhibit outside the Astronaut Hall of Fame, which features the world’s largest collection of personal astronaut mementos plus historic spacecrafts and training simulators. The Hall of Fame is part of the KSC Visitor Complex.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-114 Pilot James Kelly (left) and Commander Eileen Collins look at various equipment housed there. The STS-114 crew is at KSC to take part in crew equipment and orbiter familiarization.

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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. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-114 Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence manipulates part of a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Lawrence is a new addition to the mission crew. The STS-114 crew is at KSC to take part in crew equipment and orbiter familiarization.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, workers (in protective clothing) brief STS-117 Mission Specialist James Reilly (center) and STS-115 Mission Specialist Joseph Tanner (right) 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. - One of the featured displays at the KSC Visitor Complex is the genuine external tank (center) with twin solid rocket boosters, seen here at the lower end. 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. - 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. - 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. - In the Solid Rocket Booster Assembly and Refurbishment Facility (ARF), Troy Krout, with United Space Alliance, works on positioning the parachute camera after installation 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 Orbiter Processing Facility, while Greg Harlow, with United Space Alliance (USA), (above) threads a camera under the tiles of the orbiter Endeavour, NASA’s Richard Parker (below left) and Peggy Ritchie, with USA, (at right) watch the images on a monitor to inspect for corrosion.

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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. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-115 Mission Specialist Joseph Tanner and STS-117 Mission Specialist James Reilly get a close look at 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 Commander Michael Baker prepares to enter the Space Shuttle Atlantis at Launch Pad 39B with help from White Room closeout crew members Chris Meinert (left) and Danny Wyatt.

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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 components in 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 on 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. - 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. - On Launch Complex 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) observatory is on 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. - Seen from below and through a solid rocket booster segment mockup, Jeff Thon, an SRB mechanic with United Space Alliance, tests the feasibility of a vertical solid rocket booster propellant grain inspection technique. The inspection of segments is required as part of safety analysis.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, STS-117 Mission Specialist James Reilly (center) works with the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Reilly and STS-115 Mission Specialist Joseph 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-114 Commander Eileen Collins talks with workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility. She and other crew members are at KSC to become familiar with Shuttle and mission equipment. The mission is Logistics Flight 1, which is scheduled to deliver supplies and equipment plus the external stowage platform to the International Space Station.

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Three of NASA's Infrared Telescopes

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