[sarex] SHUTTLE MOVES TO LAUNCH PAD

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

Aug. 2, 2006

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468



NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS MOVES TO LAUNCH PAD

The Space Shuttle Atlantis arrived at its launch pad at NASA's Kennedy 
Space Center, Fla., at 8:54 a.m. EDT Wednesday on top of a giant 
vehicle known as the crawler transporter.

After two days of weather delays, the crawler transporter began 
carrying Atlantis out of Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building at 1:05 
a.m. Wednesday. The crawler's maximum speed during the 4.2-mile 
journey reached 1 mph.

While at the pad, the shuttle will undergo final testing, payload 
installation and a "hot fire" test of auxiliary power units to ensure 
proper function. When testing is completed, the rotating service 
structure will be moved around the vehicle to protect it from the 
elements.

The launch window for the Atlantis mission to the International Space 
Station opens on Sunday, Aug. 27. The mission, designated STS-115, 
will be the first to perform a major expansion of the station since 
December 2002.

For information about the STS-115 mission and its crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

	
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