[sarex] STS-117 Crew to Inspect Heat Shield, Prepare for Docking

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*STS-117 Crew to Inspect Heat Shield, Prepare for Docking*

View of Earth from shuttle payload bayImage above: A video camera aboard 
Atlantis captured this view of the Earth and the shuttle's
payload bay. Image credit: NASA TV
TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO: 
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

+ View Launch Day Photo Gallery 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/multimedia/launch/launch.html>
+ View Launch Day Video Gallery 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/launch/launch_allvideos.html>

During its first full day in orbit, the STS-117 crew will inspect Space 
Shuttle Atlantis’ heat shield and prepare for Sunday’s arrival at the 
International Space Station.

Crew members will use Atlantis’ robotic arm and an orbiter boom 
extension to check out the spacecraft’s underside, nose cap and leading 
edges of the wings. The inspections are conducted to see if any damage 
occurred to the heat shield during the climb to orbit that began when 
Atlantis lifted off at 7:38 p.m. EDT from Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

In preparation for Sunday’s activities, the crew will extend the 
shuttle’s docking ring and prepare tools they will use to rendezvous and 
link up with the station. Docking is set for 3:38 p.m. EDT Sunday.

The crew members are also slated to check out spacesuits they will use 
during the mission’s three scheduled spacewalks at the station. The 
major objective of the spacewalks is the installation and activation of 
the station's newest component, the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss 
segments. The S3/S4 is riding to the international outpost inside the 
shuttle payload bay.

STS-117 is also delivering a new crew member to the station.

*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>