SPACEPHOTOS

(03/12/2002) -- Space Shuttle Atlantis is hard down on the launch pad after its mid-day rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building. Part of the Fixed Service Structure is at left. On either side of the tail of Atlantis are the tail service masts, which support the fluid, gas and electrical requirements of the orbiter's liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen aft T-0 umbilicals. Atlantis is scheduled for launch April 4 on mission STS-110, which will install the S0 truss, the framework that eventually will hold the power and cooling systems needed for future international research laboratories on the International Space Station. The Canadarm2 robotic arm will be used exclusively to hoist the 13-ton truss from the payload bay to the Station. The S0 truss will be the first major U.S. component launched to the Station since the addition of the Quest airlock in July 2001. The four spacewalks planned for the construction will all originate from the airlock. The mission will be Atlantis' 25th trip to space