In Photos: NASA's Historic Launch Pad 39A, from Apollo to Shuttle to SpaceX

Mobile Service Structure

The Mobile Service Structure moves down the Pad 39A ramp during preparations for the Apollo 11 launch.

Skylab

The U.S. launched its first space station, Skylab, from Pad 39A on May 14, 1973.

Giant Erector Set

Construction of the payload changeout room for the Space Shuttle Program made it possible to install payloads while the space shuttle stands vertically on Pad 39A.

STS-1

The space shuttle Columbia, NASA's first orbiter, is showered with lights in this nocturnal scene at Launch Pad 39A during preparations for the first flight of NASA's new reusable spacecraft system. This photo was taken in March 1981 ahead of Columbia's April 12, 1981 launch.

STS-6

A view of the shuttle Challenger rolling out to the pad before its maiden launch on April 4, 1983.

Atlantis

The Space Shuttle Atlantis is pictured during the slow journey to Pad 39A from the Vehicle Assembly Building on Aug. 20, 1996, before the launch of STS-79.

STS-107

Space Shuttle Columbia hurtles through a perfect blue Florida sky carrying mission STS-107 on Jan. 16, 2003.

Repairing Damages

During the launch of Discovery on the STS-124 mission, Pad 39A sustained unprecedented damages to its flame trench. A section of the east wall was destroyed and debris scattered as far as the pad perimeter fence 1,500 feet (457 meters) away. [Read the full story]

STS-119

A nearly full moon sets as the space shuttle Discovery sits atop Launch pad 39A on March 11, 2009. [VIDEO: Discovery's Night Launch]

Sister Shuttles on Twin Pads

Space shuttles Atlantis (STS-125) and Endeavour (STS-400) on launch pads 39A and 39B before the Hubble servicing mission in 2008. Endeavour stands by in case of the unlikely event that a rescue mission is necessary during Atlantis' STS-125 mission to repair NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.