Microsoft, in association with NASA, has launched a new collection of 3-Dimensional (3D) Images through Photosynth of the space shuttle Endeavour and surrounding buildings at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida before it launches into space. Readers may recall that earlier, in June, this year, Microsoft had released a similiar collection of 3-D photos of Britain’s finest historical architecture in association with BBC.

Online viewers can go to Microsoft Live Labs to access 3-D images of details such as the shuttle boosters, interior and exterior of the Vehicle Assembly Building, and launchpad. By clicking and dragging their mouse, visitors to the site will be able to explore parts of the shuttle launch, zooming in to see the smallest decorative detail or zooming out and panning 360 degrees to place the shuttle in a wider context.

Key features of this 3-D collection include:

•The interior and surrounding area of the Vehicle Assembly Building (the largest one-story building in the world), used for housing external fuel tanks and flight hardware, and the location of orbiter mating (stacking) with the solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank to prepare the space shuttle for launch.

•Endeavour on the launchpad, including amazing detail shots taken from a helicopter

•The previous flight STS-117 shuttle Atlantis returning from Edwards Air Force Base in California to Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility

You can also watch a video of the launch of Endeavour at spaceworld.msnbc.com.