At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis is firmly secured to the fixed service structure pedestals at Launch Pad 39A. The 3.4-mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad began at 6:38 a.m. EDT and was completed at 1:31 p.m.
The pad's protective rotating service structure will be closed around the shuttle tonight, and launch pad teams will begin preparations to support Atlantis' targeted Nov. 12 launch at 4:04 p.m. EST.
The STS-129 astronauts are scheduled to fly to Kennedy on Oct. 19 to participate in the three-day Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT. This training gives the crew an opportunity to check the fit of their spacesuits, practice emergency evacuation procedures at the launch pad, review firefighting methods and participate in a simulated launch countdown.
