SPACEPHOTOS

(11/30/2000) --- After rollback of the Rotating Service Structure, Space Shuttle Endeavour shines under spotlights. At the top of the external tank is the Gaseous Oxygen Vent Arm and its vent hood, known as the “beanie cap.” The hood is raised to clear the external tank 2.5 minutes before launch. Endeavour is targeted for launch Nov. 30 at about 10:06 p.m. EST on mission STS-97. In the background, the sky prepares for dawn. The mission to the International Space Station carries the P6 Integrated Truss Segment containing solar arrays and batteries that will be temporarily installed to the Unity connecting module by the Z1 truss, recently delivered to and installed on the Station on mission STS-92. The two solar arrays are each more than 100 feet long. They will capture energy from the sun and convert it to power for the Station. Two spacewalks will be required to install the solar array connections