NASA Brings Shuttle Inside

NASA is moving the Atlantis back into the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Concerns about tropical Storm Ernesto prompted the move.

"It was about the weather and keeping the vehicle safe," said NASA spokeswoman Tracy Young.

The move, started shortly before noon, was expected to take about 12 hours.

NASA rules say the shuttle should not be outside in winds of more than 45 mph.

The Weather Service is projecting winds of between 39 and 74 mph. Kind of a wide spread, isn't it?  By the way, if you have never seen the VAB, you've really missed something. It is one of the largest buildings in the world. You simply do not comprehend how huge it is until you realize that that little, tiny gray mark at the base of the building is a normal sized door!

UPDATE: Well, never mind then. NASA suddenly reversed itself and has sent the Atlantis back to the launch pad after warnings about Ernesto were downgraded further. While it sounds as if they are confused, it is actually a matter of launch windows and how long it takes to get the shuttle ready once it is on the pad.