[sarex] Astronauts at the Pad

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMIOTTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Astronauts at the Pad *

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

  Image above: One by one, the STS-117 astronauts are strapped in for 
launch. 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 - 4:45 p.m. EDT*
The STS-117 crew is at Launch Pad 39A. A short elevator ride to the 
195-foot level takes the astronauts to the White Room where one by one 
each crewmember is assisted by NASA's closeout crew as they prepare to 
board the shuttle. Their flight suits are checked and an orange glow 
stick is tucked into the pocket of each suit for safety.

Commander Sturckow was first to be secured in his seat, followed by 
pilot Lee Archambault on the flight deck. As rest of the crew members 
are seated and strapped in, Sturckow began powering up the orbiter's 
general purpose computer for flight.

*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.