NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Poised for Launch Space Shuttle Discovery was secured on Launch Pad 39A after a nearly 7 hour journey on the crawlerway and was hard down at 1:15 p.m. EDT, Sept. 30. A banner at the launch pad proclaims the sentiments of the work force at Kennedy Space Center. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton + View High-res Image

Platforms Extended Access platforms at Launch Pad 39A are moved into position against the space shuttle. Discovery arrived at its seaside launch pad around noon. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton + View High-res Image

Discovery Makes the Grade Space Shuttle Discovery climbs the five percent grade to the top of the hardstand at Launch Pad 39A. Rollout is a milestone for the STS-120 mission to the International Space Station. Discovery's crew will be delivering and installing the Italian-built U.S. Node 2, named Harmony. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton + View High-res Image

Crawling Towards the Pad The crawler transporter, moving Space Shuttle Discovery atop its mobile launch platform, has reached the intersection of the paths to Pad 39A and Pad 39B. The crawler's maximum speed is a little more than one mile per hour carrying the shuttle. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton + View High-res Image

Rainbows Ahead A truck travels ahead of the space shuttle spraying water on the crawlerway causing a rainbow to appear as the sun shines through the droplets. The spray of water reduces the the amount of dust churned up by the passage of the shuttle. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton + View High-res Image

Sunrise Rollout Discovery moves along the crawlerway toward Launch Pad 39A as the sun rises on a balmy Florida morning. First motion out of the VAB was at 6:47 a.m. EDT. Sunday, Sept. 30. The crawler transporter carrying the mobile launch platform and unfueled space shuttle weighs approximately 17.5 million pounds. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton + View High-res Image

Proud of Her Shuttle Discovery Flow Director Stephanie Stilson poses with the shuttle in the background as it is moved from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton + View High-res Image

Discovery Has Left the Building Atop a mobile launch platform, Space Shuttle Discovery moves through the doors of the Vehicle Assembly Building. First motion was at 6:47 a.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton + View High-res Image

Elaine M. Marconi
NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center