After #NASA ended the #SpaceShuttle Program, the three #Orbiters, #Discovery, Endeavour, and #Atlantis, were all lent out to #museums for public viewing. This required the #spacecraft to be decontaminated from toxic propellants, and have their #SSME / RS-25D #rocket #engines removed for use in the #SpaceLaunchSystem and replaced by replicas.
This retrofitting required some awkward Orbiter dancing as #KSC only had 3 Orbiter Processing Facilities, and had already rented one out. So one Orbiter remained in the #VAB while another was processed.
In this #photograph, Discovery and Atlantis are changing places and meet in the middle.
https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/atlantis-and-discovery-meet-heron-and-fox.html

This view taken from a higher level in the #VAB looks over #Atlantis’ aft, clearly showing where the 3 #SSME engines were removed, as well as silver foil over where the #OMS pods attach.
It’s also possible to see the protective braces on the #payloadbay doors.
#SpaceShuttle #Orbiter is secure in the VAB and #KSC in #Florida, waiting to move to the #AtlantisMuseum being built by the KSC Visitors Complex.
https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/atlantis-moved-to-vab-10-heron-and-fox.html

RS-25 engine performance “perfect” on Artemis I debut launch
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/12/artemis-i-rs25-review/

The four RS-25 engines from Aerojet Rocketdyne successfully propelled the Core Stage, Interim Cryogenic Propulsion… The post RS-25 engine performance “perfect” on Artemis I debut launch appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .
#Artemis #Featured #Aerojet_Rockdyne #Artemis_I #NASA #RS25 #SLS #space_launch_system #SSME