Space Shuttle Closer To Launch

The crew of STS-117 pose for their official portrait. From left are mission specialists James Reilly II and Steven Swanson, Commander Frederick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and mission specialists Patrick Forrester and John D. Olivas. Image credit: NASA

by Staff Writers
Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) Feb 14, 2007
Space Shuttle Atlantis was mated to the orange external tank and twin solid rocket boosters last week. The entire assembly is stacked on the mobile launcher platform and is targeted to roll out to Launch Pad 39A on February 15. The rollout marks the next milestone for Mission STS-117 and will be the first launch from Pad 39A in four years.

The flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station on mission STS-117 has been targeted for March 15, a day earlier than originally planned.

On the next space shuttle flight to continue constructing the station, the Atlantis crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties.

Commanding the Atlantis team is Frederick Sturckow, a veteran of two shuttle missions (STS-88, STS-105), while Lee Archambault will be making his first flight as the shuttle's pilot. Mission Specialists James Reilly (STS-89, STS-104) and Patrick Forrester (STS-105) will be returning to the station. Steven Swanson and John Olivas, both mission specialists, join the crew for their first flight into space.

The mission astronauts will return to Kennedy a few weeks before liftoff to participate in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. During this time they will practice launch activities, safety exercises, inspect the payload and conclude with a simulated main engine cut-off exercise.

SHUTTLE NEWS

NASA's Shuttle Atlantis Rolls to Vehicle Assembly Building

Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) Feb 09, 2007
NASA's space shuttle Atlantis completed a milestone to move it one step closer to a targeted March launch. Early Wednesday drivers moved Atlantis from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Atlantis, perched on top of the giant, 76-wheel Crawler-Transporter, began its move at 6:19 a.m. EST. It arrived in the Vehicle Assembly Building at 7:24 a.m.

ROCKET SCIENCE NASA Solicits Ideas For Constellation Ground Work New Space Technology Provides Less Shake Rattle And Roll DemoFlight 2 Launch Update SpaceDev Conducts Hot-Fire Test Of Hybrid Upper Stage Rocket Motor	LAUNCH PAD THEMIS Launch Delayed To Friday THEMIS Launch Now Set for Feb 16 Research Rocket Launches From Poker Flat Through Pulsating Aurora Six Aurora-Research Rockets To Launch From Poker Flat
SHUTTLE NEWS Space Shuttle Closer To Launch NASA's Shuttle Atlantis Rolls to Vehicle Assembly Building Shuttle Atlantis Processing Picks Up The Pace Space Shuttle Launch Rescheduled	STATION NEWS Soyuz TMA-10 Delivered To Baikonur For Final Processing US Gyrodyne Repaired On Space Station Says RSA Space Station Systems On The Blink Again But All Services Restored For Now Leopold Eyharts Assigned To European Columbus Laboratory ISS Assembly Mission
SPACE TRAVEL Rosetta Trajectory Correction Manoeuvre On Route For Mars Flyby Japanese Astronaut To Bring Noodles To ISS Students Working On Space Suit Redesign For NASA Astronauts' Image Falls Back To Earth In Love Triangle Case	DRAGON SPACE If You Love Me Order Some Purple Space Potatoes China, US Have No Space Cooperation China To Build Fourth Satellite Launching Center In Hainan Baker's Dozen Via For Chinese Lunar Rover Design
ROBO SPACE Robotic Exoskeleton Replaces Muscle Work Robotic Arm Aids Stroke Victims Scientists Study Adhesive Capabilities Of Geckos To Develop Surveillance Or Inspection Robots Japanese Women To Try Lipstick With Touch Of Button	MARSDAILY A Wet Past Launches Quest For Life On Red Planet Success For Thales Space Laser Headed To Mars Opportunity Flips 10 Kilometers And Tests New Drive Software Animation Of Newly Uploaded Mars Exploration Driving Capability

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement