[sarex] Launch Postponed

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Launch Postponed*

The Space Shuttle Mission Management Team decided Saturday afternoon to 
postpone the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis for at least 24 hours to 
allow more time for teams to assess ground and flight systems following 
a strong lighting strike to the lighting protection system at the launch 
pad on Friday afternoon.

"We're going to let the teams go off and work the plans," said LeRoy 
Cain, launch integration manager and chairman of the management team. 
Cain said the Mission Management Team would review data and decide about 
Monday when they reconvene at 10 a.m. EDT on Sunday.
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If it is determined that all systems are go for a Monday launch, the 
weather presents only a 20 percent chance of "no go" according to U.S. 
Air Force First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron at Cape 
Canaveral Air Force Station.

The liftoff time for Monday would be 4:04 p.m. EDT.

*The Crew and Mission Ahead*
The STS-115 crew consists of Commander Brent W. Jett Jr., Pilot 
Christopher J. Ferguson and Mission Specialists Heidemarie M. 
Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joseph R. Tanner, Daniel C. Burbank and Steven G. 
MacLean, who represents the Canadian Space Agency.
+ Learn more about the crew 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/index.html>

With this mission, NASA is ready to get back to building the 
International Space Station, marking the first time in almost four years 
that a space station component has been added to the orbiting outpost. 
That also means the shuttle program is coming up on some of the most 
challenging space missions ever.
+ Learn more about the mission 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/mission_overview.html>

During their three spacewalks, crew members of Atlantis will install the 
P3/P4 integrated truss and a second set of solar arrays on the space 
station, doubling the station’s current ability to generate power from 
sunlight and adding 17.5 tons to its mass.
+ Learn more about the truss 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/truss_segment.html>