In the Space Station Processing Facility technicians secure the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer.

In the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians secure the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) onto a rotation stand where it will be tested and processed for launch.

AMS, a state-of-the-art particle physics detector, is designed to operate as an external experiment on the International Space Station. It will use the unique environment of space to study the universe and its origin by searching for dark matter. AMS will fly to the station aboard space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission targeted to launch February, 2011. For more information visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts134/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller