SPACEPHOTOS

Ed Muktarian, a structural engineer with Lockheed Space Operations Co., is assisting with the docking of the Space Shuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad 39B. Muktarian is using a surveying instrument called a zenith nadir plummet to properly align survey plates located both on the pad surface and the mobile launch platform (MLP), which rests atop the crawler and supports the Shuttle. The north-south positioning provided by the plummet is used in conjunction with the east-west alignment accomplished with the highly precise laser docking system on the crawler. Muktarian communicates through his headset with the driver aboard the crawler to insure that the shuttle and MLP are placed in an accurate final position atop the hard stand. Launch of Endeavour on Mission STS-57 is targeted for early June.