SPACEPHOTOS

(09/21/1998) -- The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in the Launch Complex 39 area wears a new coat of paint, along with newly painted American flag and NASA logo. The improved look was finished in time to honor NASA's 40th anniversary on Oct. 1. In order to do the job, workers were suspended on platforms from the top of the 525-foot-high VAB. One of the world's largest buildings by volume, the VAB is the last stop for the Shuttle before rollout to the launch pad. Integration and stacking of the complete Space Shuttle vehicle (orbiter, two solid rocket boosters and the external tank) takes place in High Bays 1 or 3. To the right of the VAB is the Launch Control Center. Each of its four firing rooms are equipped with automated, computer-controlled Launch Processing System (LPS) for monitoring and controlling Shuttle assembly, checkout and launch operations, as well as work order control and scheduling. Banana Creek is visible behind and to the right of the VAB