Atlantis: Deservicing and Retirement Updates

• #920 by Overflow on 05 May, 2013 23:29
• Quote from: wkann on 03 May, 2013 22:34

  Work on the repleca SRB's outside the Space Shuttle Atlantis Attraction is nearly complete. Next comes the replica External Fuel Tank. Looks amazing.
  

  
  This exhibit is going to be awesome..
• #921 by psloss on 06 May, 2013 19:14
• NASA Kennedy PAO has published a set of stills taken when Atlantis first arrived at KSC on 13 April 1985.  Links to the first and last in the set:
  
  http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=65137
  http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=65145
  
  (The descriptions unfortunately still have the error on overland transport date, which was actually 9 April 1985.)
  
• #922 by Overflow on 06 May, 2013 23:54
• Wow! Great find!
  
  She looks so clean.
• #923 by wkann on 07 May, 2013 03:18
• Looks like Atlantis’s payload bay doors will be opening very soon.

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• #924 by brettreds2k on 07 May, 2013 12:01
• Looks like they have the glass barrier up around the walkway now to!! Its all coming together!!
• #925 by Chris Bergin on 07 May, 2013 12:35
• Looks very impressive.
  
  NASA Kennedy / KSC ‏@NASAKennedy 10m
  An aerial view of the Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the @ExploreSpaceKSC  where the exhibit is under construction. pic.twitter.com/9tLpCRJAXe

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• #926 by Space Pete on 07 May, 2013 12:44
• Looks like something could be getting ready to happen.
  
  Webcam link: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/atlantis-earthcam.aspx

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• #927 by brettreds2k on 07 May, 2013 13:06
• The right bay door looks like it has moved a tad!!! ITS TIME!!
• #928 by Space Pete on 07 May, 2013 13:08

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• #929 by brettreds2k on 07 May, 2013 13:30
• Once the doors are opened, will they be able to remove the yellow bars that were needed to support the opening or will those need to stay on in order for the wires to be attached to the ceiling to hold the weight? If they do remove them, where will they attach the wires on the cargo bay doors?
• #930 by brettreds2k on 07 May, 2013 14:03
• At this rate they may have the door open more than halfway by the end of the day, they are making pretty quick progress
• #931 by Space Pete on 07 May, 2013 14:05

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• #932 by collectSPACE on 07 May, 2013 14:18
• Quote from: brettreds2k on 07 May, 2013 13:30

  Once the doors are opened, will they be able to remove the yellow bars...
  

  
  The yellow bars, known as strongbacks, are remaining attached. According to the exhibit planners, the strongbacks will be hidden from view given the way Atlantis is displayed.
  
  As of 10:05 a.m. EDT, the starboard door is now (more or less) midway open.

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• #933 by brettreds2k on 07 May, 2013 14:44
• Wow, they are going much faster than they planned? I know earlier they thought 1-2 weeks to get them all they way open, but they are half way with the first one in just 3 hours 
• #934 by Space Pete on 07 May, 2013 15:10
• This will be the last ever time that a Space Shuttle's PLBDs are opened - ever.
• #935 by brettreds2k on 07 May, 2013 15:16
• Looks like the right bay door is fully open now.
• #936 by Space Pete on 07 May, 2013 15:18

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• #937 by cautionjump on 07 May, 2013 15:21
• Does anyone know if the kuband antenna and radiators will be deployed?
  
  And will they leave the payload bay empty?
• #938 by collectSPACE on 07 May, 2013 15:21
• Quote from: Space Pete on 07 May, 2013 15:10

  This will be the last ever time that a Space Shuttle's PLBDs are opened - ever.
  

  
  According to the California Science Center, one or both of Endeavour's doors may be opened when the orbiter is displayed vertically in 2017. Also, the Smithsonian has said it may someday consider opening Discovery's doors.
• #939 by collectSPACE on 07 May, 2013 15:26
• Quote from: cautionjump on 07 May, 2013 15:21

  And will they leave the payload bay empty?
  

  
  Other than installing/deploying the replica Canadarm, nothing else will be added to the payload bay.