In the early morning hours of Friday, November 02nd, the space shuttle orbiter "Atlantis" was moved from high bay #04 of the VAB to the NASA Kennedy Visitor Center. The procession passed via the NASA KSC HQ building and detoured a bit to overcome obstacles. It stopped for about 3 hours so that the public can see it up close and then she was parked inside her new permanent display. The building is under construction but will provide shelter for her as they finish it around her.

It was an incredibly sad day..even for a diehard engineer like me who is acutely aware of the short coming of the STS program. Here is a video of my cameras in the VAB and outside as they recorded the sight as she left the VAB and passed the OPFs.

The people walking behind her towards the end are the people that used to work on her. The move was done by a private contractor. It was strange to see an outside entity in the driving seat of the transporter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJmE...8v5_hU&feature=player_embedded

[Edited 2012-11-04 18:35:22]

eksath,

Thanks for this great tribute. I still can't believe I won't see orbiters flying again.

Quoting eksath (Thread starter): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJmE...8v5_hU&feature=player_embedded

Nice work there. You've been really lucky to be so close to the Space Shuttles. I had to travel a long way to see them blasting off to Space.

I felt terribly sad watching Shuttle Atlantis being taken to her new home. No doubt she will be a wonderful exhibition in the new building they are preparing for her at KSC. She will be in the right place only that she will be lifeless and turned a museum artifact.

I made my own souvenir pictures capturing screen shots as I was watching the slow procession livecast on NASA TV. The pictures are in the right order as Atlantis left the VAB on the way to her new building.

Poor orbiter... she looked so sad.

These are some of the pictures I have got. The music of choice for these pictures is Frédéric Chopin's funeral march.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgw_RD_1_5I&feature=related

     




  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  


  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



  



     

This is where the NASA TV live cast ended with that one still picture off Atlantis sitting by that new building which will now be her new home. They were going to roll her inside the building and then the final wall willl be built and she will stay there ad vitam aeternam.

It was wonderful to see these astronauts who accompanied space shuttle Atlantis on the final leg of its 10-hour journey marching behind Atlantis. Among them aside from Space Shuttle astronauts there was Moon walkers and also Gemini and Mercury astronauts.

After the NASA TV coverage ended and before Atlantis was rolled into the building, there was a fantastic fireworks display positioned directly over the orbiter.

For those interested there is a very interesting web page here by "CollectSpace" explaining the new Atlantis exhibition plans and much more.

http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-110312a.html

Rest in Peace Atlantis. You are a most amazing Ship.
I hope you will enjoy your new career as a Museum display piece in your beautiful new home at KSC

        

Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 2): This is where the NASA TV live cast ended with that one still picture off Atlantis sitting by that new building which will now be her new home

That is a lot of screen captures! I applaud your for the dedication and support! It is an exciting time as the new flight hardware gets ready! I watched the refurbished crawler # 02 crawl its way to Pad 39A.... an awesome sight of the future...

Atlantis:
Watch a 12-hour journey happen in less than 4 minutes

Atlantis Time-Lapse Move to KSC Visitor Complex

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&feature=youtu.be&v=1TZc8XOkUnU