News Atlantis' Final Journey

[cljohnston]

Journey with Atlantis: Public invited to last space shuttle delivery | collectSPACE

Shuttle Atlantis to make historic move | Central Florida News 13

Cruising From Central Florida May Take You On The Ride Of Your Life (PHOTOS) | Huffington Post

Atlantis is ready to roll | FLORIDA TODAY

My Close Encounter with Atlantis | Wired Science

(I myself got to tour Atlantis at Plant 42 back in '98, when she was in for Major Modification. Certainly one of the high points of this Space Junkie's life!)

I can't seem to find a live video stream, since NASA-TV apparently has no further interest in the Shuttle (since they never covered the Endeavour Road Trip).
Fortunately, there's a former Space Shuttle technician who's been posting pics to his Twitter feed.

Andy Scheer (apacheman) on Twitter

 

[Kyle]

And thus will truly end the space shuttle's tenure as an object of exploration, to begin anew its purpose, to be an object of future innovation.

 

[orb]

Florida Today:

• Shuttle Atlantis begins final move to VAB
  
  
• Atlantis rolls out, heads to VAB for last visit

NASASpaceflight: Atlantis’ team comforted by the orbiter retiring at her home port of KSC

AmericaSpace: Atlantis Prepared For Final Voyage

collectSPACE: Shuttle Atlantis moved between buildings to await delivery for display

Spaceflight Now:

• Final space shuttle ready for shipment to retirement site
  
  
• Atlantis takes final 'rollover' of space shuttle era (PHOTO GALLERY)

More photos are there (NASA KSC Media Gallery).

 

[orb]

 

[Keatah]

And thus will truly end the space shuttle's tenure as an object of exploration, to begin anew its purpose, to be an object of future innovation.

Future innovation? I should hope we take directions different than the shuttle program!

---------- Post added at 01:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:23 PM ----------

Should the need arise, would these be able to be pressed back into service? From what I understand, though, is that they destructively cut out all the OMS/RCS and main engines. But considering today's manufacturing ability would it be possible to restore them to flight?

 

[Kyle]

It would impossibly costly to rebuild the Space Shuttles back to flight service.

Your best hope to see gliders with people in space is Dream Chaser.

 

[orb]

collectSPACE: How shuttle Atlantis will roll (and rise) into NASA display

Florida Today: Atlantis' moving day one week from today

 

[orb]

NASA News Release:
MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-210
NASA Television Airs Space Shuttle Atlantis' Final Move

Oct. 30, 2012

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Television will provide live coverage of events surrounding space shuttle Atlantis' move to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida for permanent public display.

At 2 p.m. EDT Thursday, Nov. 1, NASA TV's media channel will air a news briefing about the transformation of Kennedy Space Center to a multiuser spaceport. The briefing participants are:

• Lisa Colloredo, associate manager, Commercial Crew Program
• Scott Colloredo, chief architect, Ground Systems Development and Operations Program
• Bruce Reid, Kennedy Space Center mission manager for Landsat Data Continuity Mission
• Jody Singer, deputy manager, Space Launch System Program

At 3:30 p.m., NASA TV's media channel will air a briefing about the future of human spaceflight. The participants are:

• Robert Cabana, director, Kennedy Space Center
• Bill Hill, assistant deputy associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development
• Ed Mango, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program

On Friday, Nov. 2, NASA TV will begin coverage at 7 a.m. as Atlantis departs Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The shuttle will make the 10-mile journey from the VAB to the visitor complex atop a 76-wheel flatbed vehicle called the Orbiter Transportation System, stopping along the route for a retirement ceremony at about 10 a.m. Ceremony participants include:

• NASA Administrator Charles Bolden
• Robert Cabana, NASA Kennedy Space Center director
• Current and former astronauts of Atlantis' final mission, STS-135
• Bill Moore, chief operating officer, Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Following the ceremony, Atlantis will travel to Space Florida's Exploration Park for a presentation and viewing opportunity for visitor complex guests before departing for its new home.

NASA TV coverage of the move will conclude when Atlantis reaches the visitor complex at about 6 p.m.

NASA retains the title to Atlantis and is providing it to the visitor complex for the public to view. Engineers have been preparing the shuttle for public display as part of NASA's transition and retirement processing of the shuttle fleet. A grand opening of Atlantis' new home at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is planned for July 2013.

{...}

 

[orb]

Florida Today: 30 astronauts to be on hand for shuttle Atlantis' move to Visitor Complex:

About 30 astronauts will lead the space shuttle Atlantis on the homestretch of its 9.8-mile journey Friday to its new home at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Tim Macy, director of project development and construction for Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, which operates the Visitor Complex, said the astronaut appearance was just added to Friday’s event schedule.

Final preparations are under way for the daylong trip to the Visitor Complex from KSC Vehicle Assembly Building. Atlantis’ journey aboard a 76-wheeled Orbiter Transporter System vehicle will start at 6:30 a.m. and end at 6 p.m., with several planned stops along the way, including at Space Florida’s Exploration Park. More than 300 people are helping coordinate the move.

The public will be able to buy tickets to view part of the journey and see Atlantis up close that day.

{...}

 

[Kyle]

Okay, so looks like I'm going to be the guy with all the photos for this.

I've been given the opportunity to attend the rollover to KSC, I'm leaving tonight and will be watching it Friday. My camera is professional, so I'll be sure to take the highest quality pictures possible!

 

[cljohnston]

Spaceflight Now | STS-135 | The eve of Atlantis' move to museum

I remember, back when I toured Atlantis in '98 at Plant 42, we were shown this area between the SSME's where they'd installed these "TUFF Tiles"...

Sure held up well, huh!

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight: Space Shuttle Atlantis – The Final Goodbye

collectSPACE: Space shuttle Atlantis leaves on last move for museum display

CBS News Space: Shuttle Atlantis makes final journey

 

[orb]

Pictures from the Atlantis moving are there:

• Kennedy Media Gallery - Atlantis
  
  
• NASA HQ photo's photostream - 20121102 Atlantis Move

Discovery News: NASA Takes Last Shuttle to Retirement Home

RIA Novosti: NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis Makes its Final Journey

 

[orb]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN1buAEAp-k"]Atlantis Moves to New Home - YouTube[/ame]

 

[orb]

A time lapse of the Atlantis' movement:

AmericaSpace: Chasing Atlantis: The Shuttle Era Ends at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

 

[Kyle]

I got hundreds of photos, going to upload tomorrow. Had a high quality lens too! SNC, SpaceX, XCOR, Boeing, all had booths up, I hogged them up talking space policy for about 30 minutes each. Great day to be sure.

Here's an iPhone teaser, no where near as awesome as the camera is.

 

[orb]

Florida Today:

• Atlantis' moving: A day like none other
  
  
• With new owner of Atlantis, an all-new mission
  
  
• 'Awesome' sight of Atlantis thrills visitors
  
  
• Cameras were clicking all over at KSC
  
  
• Rockets herald the end of a big day for Atlantis, KSC
  
  
• From VAB to Visitor's Complex, Atlantis arrives home

 

[Kyle]

I promised you all pictures, here you go! Got sunburned pretty bad, but totally WORTH IT.

 

[orb]

AmericaSpace:

• Atlantis Photo Feature Part One: Alan Walters
  
  
• Atlantis Photo Feature Part Two: Mike Killian
  
  
• Atlantis Photo Feature Part Three: Julian Leek
  
  
• Atlantis Photo Feature Part Four: Mark Usciak
  
  
• Atlantis Photo Feature Part Five: Matt Gaetjens
  
  
• Atlantis Photo Feature Part Six: Mike Howard
  
  
• Atlantis Photo Feature Part Seven: Wired4Space

 

[orb]

Different than posted earlier time lapse video from NASAKennedy: