Space shuttles Discovery, Atlantis and the ISS
All were in the news this week, but alas not because they were docked with each other.
Discovery is in its final phase of decommissioning in preparation for its ferry flight to the Smithsonian in April. The aerodynamic tail cone to cover space shuttle Discovery's main engines will provide a smooth airflow during the piggyback ride atop the modified Boeing 747 carrier jet. This comes after the shuttle was shut down for the final time, the orbiter going cold and dark forever.
Atlantis is staying at Kennedy Space Centre and will be on the spot where I stood in August which was, until recently, occupied by the replica shuttle Explorer. Construction of the 65,000-square-foot, 6-story-tall exhibit will begin soon in preparation for receiving the spacecraft early next year and a planned summer 2013 grand opening to the public. Plans for Atlantis call for the orbiter to be displayed on support struts at an angle, its 60-foot-long payload bay doors open just like the ship was flying high above Earth, and spectators being able to walk around to see all of the vehicle's exterior.
Finally the International Space Station was caught flying by the moon, not literally of course but the images captured make it look as if it was way out of orbit! This remarkable image was taken in Houston as the station orbited 243 miles above the planet. The science complex is the brightest man-made object in the night sky.
