[sarex] Launch Preparations Continue

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Launch Preparations Continue*

*Launch Time: * 7:38 p.m. EDT

  Image above: The Final Inspection Team, or Ice Team, inspects the 
external tank at Launch Pad 39A. Image credit: NASA
+ View Launch Day Photo Gallery 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/multimedia/launch/launch.html>

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

*06.08.07 - 3:00 p.m. EDT*
The Final Inspection Team -- also known as the "Ice Team" -- is at the 
launch pad inspecting the space shuttle's exterior. The team will spend 
about two hours checking the external tank to make sure it is in good 
condition and free of ice and debris.

There is an 80 percent chance of favorable weather at launch time this 
evening.

The loading of Atlantis' external tank with 500,000 gallons of liquid 
oxygen and hydrogen began at 9:55 a.m. The "topping off" of propellants 
into the tank will continue until launch. All systems onboard the space 
shuttle are functioning normally and ready for liftoff.

*Follow the live countdown coverage in progress:*
+ NASA TV <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html>
+ Launch Blog 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/launch/index_Launch-blog.html> 


*Mission and Crew*
Mission STS-117 is the Space Shuttle Program's 21st mission to the 
International Space Station. Rick Sturckow will command the mission and 
Lee Archambault will serve as Atlantis' pilot. Mission Specialists 
Patrick Forrester, James Reilly, Steven Swanson, John Olivas and Flight 
Engineer Clayton Anderson round out the crew to deliver the S3/S4 
starboard truss segments, batteries and another pair of solar arrays to 
the space station. Anderson will replace Expedition 15 Flight Engineer 
Sunita Williams on station and Williams will return to Earth aboard 
Atlantis.

*Launch + 1 hour - Post-launch News Conference *
- Rex Geveden, NASA associate administrator
- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
- John Shannon, chairman, Mission Management Team
- Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director
+ NASA TV <http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html>

*STS-117 Mission*
+ The Crew 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/index.html> 

+ The Mission 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/mission_overview.html> 

+ The Integrated Truss Structure 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/its.html>