SPACEPHOTOS

(09/12/2000) -- The early morning sun is caught between Space Shuttle Discovery and its external tank on Launch Pad 39A. On the right is the Rotating Service Structure, not yet closed around the Shuttle. At far left is the 300,000-gallon water tank that is part of the sound suppression system during launch. Discovery is scheduled to launch on mission STS-92 Oct. 5 at 9:30 p.m. EDT. Making the 100th Space Shuttle mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Discovery will carry two pieces of hardware for the International Space Station, the Z1 truss, which is the cornerstone truss of the Station, and the third Pressurized Mating Adapter. Discovery also will be making its 28th flight into space, more than any of the other orbiters to date