Members of NASA Kennedy Space Center's Final Inspection Team, known as the "Ice Team", performs a "walkdown" of Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A during shuttle Atlantis' STS-132 launch countdown on May 14. The six-member team walks on every level of the pad's fixed service structure inspecting the shuttle, external fuel tank, solid rocket booster, pad structure and ground equipment for signs of ice buildup, debris or anything else that might be amiss prior to launch. As part of the inspection, photos are taken and transmitted to the launch team for review. A videographer for NASA was included as a member of the team to capture the first-ever up close, high-definition video of this important and hazardous inspection process.

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"ICE TEAM" INSPECTS ATLANTIS BEFORE LAUNCH • DOWNLOAD

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Today, NASA managers formally cleared space shuttle Atlantis for launch May 14 to deliver supplies and a Russian-built research module to the International Space Station. Liftoff of Atlantis is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. EDT on what will likely be the ship's final mission to space, becoming the first of NASA's three orbiters to make its last flight as the agency works to retire the fleet sometime late this year or early in 2011.

STS-132 MISSION SUMMARY | READ (PDF)
STS-132 OFFICIAL FLIGHT KIT | READ (PDF)

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