Approaching the VAB
We all know it’s big. However it is hard to get a grip, how big it really is. It’s there at the horizon, and driving seems not bring you closer. Each stripe of the American flag has the width of a standard road lane.

At the Gate of the VAB
Some things are hard to believe. For example the fact, that you have just entered the VAB. History happened right here, and still happens. The orange balloon in the back actually is the external fuel tank for the Endeavour, that has just arrived the day before.

Look up
The ceiling of the VAB, 160m above you. Sometimes, even looking up can make you dizzy.

Endeavour’s External Fuel Tank
It had just arrived a few days before and was about to be erected. However, the horizontal position makes it even more impressive.

Close up
Getting so close to real space hardware that you are used to know from TV only, has a sense of unreal fantasy and total excitement.

Hidden in the side bay
Yes. It’s the Discovery. All you can see is the external fuel tank, and the MLP. The orbiter and the boosters are hidden behind an iron spider web.

The Mobile Launcher Platform
Like the Crawler Transporters, it stems from the days of the moon landing program. The LUT was removed, and two additional openings for the boosters added.On the floor you can see the Crawler way.

The Writing on the Wall
Here you can sign the wall of the VAB. Truly a big thing to put your name on !

The Ceiling
It takes a few moments to realize, that the ceiling of the hall you’ve just entered in fact is the belly of the orbiter, in this case the heat shield of the Endeavour.

The Tiles
These are the famous tiles for the heat shield of the orbiter. They are incredible light weighted, even more incredible heat resistant and absolutely most incredible expensive. The price for one (1) tile is $ 10,000. To the left you see the material used for the rest of the orbiter’s surface, that is covered with heat resistant tissue.

The Endeavour
Looking towards the front you see the connection pipe to the external fuel tank..

Corner C
Here is one difference between the two Crawlers. CT#2 has three vertical columns for the handrails in front of the JEL cylinders, while CT#1 has one more.

#1 or #2 ?
You should be able now to easily identify CT#2 on this picture ;) Impressive: the new exhaust system.

Inner Steering Arm
First tests of the Crawler Transporter showed, that the outer steering cylinders alone were too weak to push the trucks. So another set of steering cylinders were added along the longitudinal side of the chassis.

On the Move
The crawler way is sprinkled to avoid tons of raised dust. To see and hear this giant in motion is an unforgettable experience.

On the Top
The beam over the fuel tank is removable.

Looking through ...
... one of the countless openings of the Crawler Transporter like here at the corner structure.

JEL Interface
One of the pictures I wish I would have had already during the design of the Crawler Transporter model. A lot of the wiring was acquired during the long life of the Crawler, however the basic set still is there.

The Sprocket
It has 13 spokes. Not sure if this is common for crawlers, however for me it still sounds very odd.

Engineer Control Room
It has changed a lot since the days of the moon landing program, while the inner machinery still is quite original. One basic insight however was, that Windows also won this battle
;)

In Control
Little me and the beast. For such a giant, the tiny steering wheel is a strange contrast. Also, when you have expected an overwhelming amount of instruments like in the cockpit of an airliner, you will be surprised.