On the Pad

Under cloudy skies above Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, space shuttle Atlantis begins to roll away from the Pad - October 2008

I've always had a soft spot for the Space Shuttle. I suppose it represents part of the fascination with space that kids growing up in the early 1980's got to see regularly on TV. The moon landings had been over a decade before, and so the space shuttle represented 'the final frontier' for my generation. Next year, however, the Shuttle program will finally draw to a close after nearly two decades of shuttle missions.

The NASA website has some terrific photography including a lot of behind the scenes imagery that really get across the immense amount of effort put into every launch. As of last Friday, two Shuttles sit ready to launch from pads 39A and 39B - one will service the Hubble telescope and the other is on standby as a rescue spacecraft. This is the final time that two will stand together on their launch pads. It's quite an impressive sight.

For more history, terrific images and lots of updates about the shuttle, the missions and loads more - click HERE