Workers at Astrotech Space Operations facilities near KSC get ready to attach an overhead crane spacecraft before lifting.

Workers at Astrotech Space Operations facilities near KSC get ready to attach an overhead crane to the Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft before lifting. They are moving it to a turnover fixture that will rotate it for prelaunch testing. Launch is scheduled for May 11 from Pad 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft will fly past Venus three times and Mercury twice before starting a year-long orbital study of Mercury in July 2009.