SPACEPHOTOS

(03/12/2002) - Viewed from across the turn basin, Space Shuttle Atlantis stands out in the bright morning light as it makes its way to the launch pad. The Shuttle sits atop the Mobile Launcher Platform, which in turn rests on the crawler-transporter beneath it, moving about 1 mile per hour. Atlantis is scheduled for launch April 4 on mission STS-110, which will install the S0 truss, the framework that eventually will hold the power and cooling systems needed for future international research laboratories on the International Space Station. The Canadarm2 robotic arm will be used exclusively to hoist the 13-ton truss from the payload bay to the Station. The S0 truss will be the first major U.S. component launched to the Station since the addition of the Quest airlock in July 2001. The four spacewalks planned for the construction will all originate from the airlock. The mission will be Atlantis' 25th trip to space