[sarex] STS-115 TO LAUNCH FRIDAY

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

Sept. 7, 2006

Tracy Young/Katherine Trinidad 
Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 
321-867-2468 



NASA'S SHUTTLE ATLANTIS SET TO LIFT OFF FRIDAY

NASA has set Space Shuttle Atlantis' launch for Friday, Sept. 8, at 
11:41 a.m. EDT. Shuttle program managers made the lift-off decision 
after reviewing more detailed data on a problem associated with one 
of the spacecraft's electricity-producing fuel cells. 

Mission managers will review an additional piece of analysis before 
the shuttle's external fuel tank is loaded at 1:45 a.m. EDT. Shuttle 
Program Manager Wayne Hale said he was confident the results of the 
analysis would support the launch decision.

Tuesday night as ground teams were preparing for a scheduled Wednesday 
launch attempt, a voltage spike in the motor of Atlantis' fuel cell 
#1 coolant pump was observed during the activation of the shuttle's 
three fuel cells. The coolant pump circulates Freon through the fuel 
cell to prevent it from overheating during flights. 

If Friday's launch is delayed, there could be another attempt Saturday 
at 11:15 a.m. EDT. 

During Atlantis' mission, STS-115, astronauts will deliver and install 
the P3/P4 truss, a girder-like structure, with solar arrays that will 
double the International Space Station's power capability. 

Atlantis' crew consists of Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson 
and mission specialists Dan Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joe 
Tanner and Steve MacLean, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut.

For the latest information about the STS-115 mission and its crew and 
more information about space shuttle fuel cells, visit: 



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

	
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