2009 Kennedy Space Center Visit

Looking back down the crawlerway towards the VAB. The marks on the crawlerway are fresh, Discovery having been moved to the pad just a day or so earlier.

Armored personnel carriers parked at the gate to LC-39A, which was closed due to Discovery having been moved to the pad just a day or two earlier. These are presumably for use in the event of a catastrophe at the pad, rather than their normal uses.

As seen from the crawlerway. The two high bays visible on this side are those primarily used for Shuttle stack operations. Ares I-X is currently being assembled in the one on the left, and Discovery was rolled out of the one on the right a day or two before this picture was taken. The high bays on the opposite side are used as a "safe haven" where a Shuttle can be parked in the event of a hurricane rollback from the pad if the other two high bays are in use, and as storage/staging for external tanks and SRB segments.

NASA logo and American flag on the side of the VAB.

(I think that was the name.) The high bay building behind the O&C and Station Processing Facility where Shuttle payloads with hazardous materials are serviced prior to delivery to the OPF or launch pad.

(I think that was the name.) The high bay building behind the O&C and Station Processing Facility where Shuttle payloads with hazardous materials are serviced prior to delivery to the OPF or launch pad.

From left to right, LC-41, LC-40, the old Titan Vertical Integration Facility, and LC-37, as seen from the middle of the causeway across the Banana River.

The Delta-IV service structure and launch tower.

The launch blockhouse at the entrance to LC-34.

The former Titan launch pad, now used by Atlas-V. The structure in the background at left is the fixed service tower, where rockets are assembled onto a mobile launch platform. Like Shuttle, the mobile platform is rolled out to the launch mount (the low concrete structure between the lightning towers on the right) for launch.

The famous beach house, between LC-40 and LC-37.

One of the last two Titan launch pads, converted now for SpaceX Falcon 9 launches.

The flame trench and pad proper at LC-40.

The company logo on the ready building adjacent to LC-40.

Formerly a Titan launch pad, now to be used by SpaceX for their Falcon 9 rockets.

The Delta-IV service structure and launch tower.