A newly installed nose cap on the orbiter Atlantis looks pristine amid the complexities of other equipment.

In the Orbiter Processing Facility, a newly installed nose cap on the orbiter Atlantis looks pristine amid the complexities of other equipment. The nose cap was removed from the vehicle in May and sent back to the vendor for thorough Non-Destructive Engineering evaluation and recoating. Thermography was also performed to check for internal flaws. This procedure uses high intensity light to heat areas that are immediately scanned with an infrared camera. White Thermal Protection System blankets were reinstalled on the nose cap before installation. Processing continues on Atlantis for its future mission to the International Space Station.