[sarex] Atlantis is 'Go' for Rollout

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Atlantis is 'Go' for Rollout*

Image above: In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space 
Center, technicians are inspecting the sanding performed on Atlantis' 
external tank nose cone to repair hail damage caused by a late February 
storm. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller + View Hi-res Image 
<http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/170421main_repairs.jpg>

TO VIEW IMAGE GO 
TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html


*05.11.07 - 4:30 p.m. EDT*
After Friday's rollout review meeting, NASA officials announced that 
repairs on the external tank on Space Shuttle Atlantis have been 
completed. The vehicle is scheduled to roll out to the launch pad on 
Wednesday, May 16 with first motion at 4 a.m. EDT.

"The teams have done a phenomenal job of repairing this tank," said Bill 
Gerstenmaier, space operations associate administrator. "We've done a 
lot of extra reviews to make sure we didn't miss anything -- a lot of 
testing…to make sure things were done right and they've done a great job."

Wayne Hale, Space Program manager gave a lot of credit to the hundreds 
of workers across the country who pulled together for the repair 
project. "We're really proud of what they have done…in an unexpected 
circumstance amidst all the other work they have to do," said Hale.

John Chapman, manager of the external tank project pointed out that the 
tank will have a speckled appearance but it will not affect performance 
or safety.

There will be a flight readiness review held on May 30, 31 and a media 
event will be held afterwards to discuss the results of the meeting.