A technician watches the progress of space shuttle Atlantis as it is lowered alongside the external fuel tank in high bay 3.

In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a technician closely watches the progress of space shuttle Atlantis as it is lowered alongside the external fuel tank in high bay 3. Atlantis will be mated to the tank and twin solid rocket boosters stacked on the mobile launcher platform. After additional preparations are made, the shuttle will be rolled out to Launch Pad 39A to prepare for launch on the STS-125 mission targeted for 1:34 a.m. EDT Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis