Shuttle Atlantis rolling to 39A ahead of STS-129. And Pad Rats (yep, they were called that; even had t-shirts - they sent me one ) putting up Atlantis' flag. NSF Pics. #ShuttleSunday

It's got to be STS-7 today for the 40th anniversary. Shuttle Challenger. Launched June 18, 1983 from 39A. #ShuttleSunday

The ISS in the "rear view mirror" of Shuttle Endeavour during STS-134. Ironically, this was Flight Day 3, so Endeavour was actually arriving at the ISS in this shot and was conducting the orbital ballet that is rendezvous. #ShuttleSunday

Shuttle Columbia at her birthplace in Palmdale, California. #ShuttleSunday

Shuttle Atlantis coming in for landing at Edwards Air Force Base Runway 22 at the conclusion of STS-30. Date: May 8, 1989. #ShuttleSunday

Shuttle Columbia, riding SCA905, escorted by T-38s, late 1981. Someone will likely be able to identify the area. #ShuttleSunday

Shuttle Columbia - STS-2 - Rollout to 39A in 1982. This was the second and last time they painted the External Tank. #ShuttleSunday Painting the tank was partly cosmetic but also related to concerns about ultraviolet rays damaging the orange insulation foam during extended…

When Shuttles Atlantis and Endeavour met face-to-face during the T&R (Transition and Retirement) flow. Video from Philip Sloss for NSF. #DanceOff! #ShuttleSunday

Escorted by T-38s, Shuttle Columbia lands at Edwards Air Force Base, Runway 22 concluding STS-4 and the Space Shuttle test program (marked being declared an operational program). July 4, 1982 #ShuttleSunday

Shuttle Enterprise flying with SCA NASA 905 over Vandenberg SLC-6 ahead of fit checks at the West Coast Shuttle launch site. #ShuttleSunday

Shuttle Endeavour hanging out with the ISS during STS-127. #ShuttleSunday

Did you know the Shuttle also used chutes? Columbia coming in to land at SLF Runway 33 to conclude STS-50 on July 9, 1992. The drag chute helped slow the vehicle down shortly after touchdown, reducing the amount of braking required. #ShuttleSunday

Reflecting on Shuttle. Atlantis rollout to 39A ahead of her STS-122 mission in 2008. #ShuttleSunday

Shuttle Discovery - STS-60 - Launched 3 February 1994 from KSC 39A. She was commanded by future NASA administrator Charlie Bolden on the first mission of the U.S./Russian Shuttle-Mir Program. #ShuttleSunday

Shuttle Endeavour - post STS-100, on Edwards Runway 22 - alongside the Boeing Phantom Works X-40A (the test vehicle for the X-37). #ShuttleSunday

STS-82 - Shuttle Discovery's 22nd mission and the second Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission - occurred 26 years ago.

Kenneth D. Bowersox commanded her during the 10 day mission. Discovery was also the shuttle that launched HST.

STS-39 - Shuttle Discovery:

The "Malarkey Milkshake" - an orbital maneuver to rotate Discovery out-of-plane, firing one OMS engine to move to a different orbital track, rapidly turned around 180° using RCS thrusters, and returned to its original orbital track.

Shuttle Shades.

Atlantis at 39A, wearing her shades to protect the windows and the flight deck instrumentation during pad flow processing.

United Space Alliance "Pad Rat" friend (yes, they were called that!)
#ShuttleSunday

Birds of a Feather.

Shuttle Atlantis launches on STS-43 from 39A. The launch date was August 2, 1991.

Carried the TDRS-E satellite (TDRS-5).

STS-51-I - Shuttle Discovery on her sixth mission, launched August 27, 1985 from KSC 39A.

Enlarge for SSME (RS-25) Shock Diamonds.