The platforms are retracted attached to its external tank and solid rocket boosters.

In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the platforms are retracted from around space shuttle Endeavour, attached to its external tank and solid rocket boosters, moments before its move from High Bay 1 to Launch Pad 39A begins. First motion was at 4:13 a.m. EST Jan. 6. The 3.4-mile trip, known as rollout, takes about six hours.

Rollout is a significant milestone in launch processing activities. The primary payload for the STS-130 mission is the International Space Station's Node 3, Tranquility, a pressurized module that will provide room for many of the station's life support systems. Attached to one end of Tranquility is a cupola, a unique work area with six windows on its sides and one on top. The cupola resembles a circular bay window and will provide a vastly improved view of the station's exterior. The multi-directional view will allow the crew to monitor spacewalks and docking operations, as well as provide a spectacular view of Earth and other celestial objects. The module was built in Turin, Italy, by Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency. Space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 mission is targeted for launch at 4:39 a.m. EST Feb. 7. For information on the STS-130 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts130/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller