[sarex] Endeavour Readies for August Launch

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C#31468

*Endeavour Readies for August Launch*


Image above: The main engines on the orbiter Endeavour (upper right) are 
seen as Endeavour is lowered into high bay 1 of the Vehicle Assembly 
Building for stacking with the external tank (seen at left) and solid 
rocket boosters. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder
+ Full Size Image 
<http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/181716main_07pd1774.jpg>

*07.05.07 2:45 p.m. EDT*
Fresh off the success of STS-117, NASA is quickly gearing up for the 
shuttle's next visit to the International Station, the STS-118 mission, 
targeted for an Aug. 7 launch. The mission will deliver the S5 truss to 
the station and will mark the first flight of Mission Specialist Barbara 
Morgan, the teacher-turned-astronaut whose association with NASA began 
more than 20 years ago.

Processing for STS-118 continues at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in 
Florida. Orbiter Endeavour arrived inside the Vehicle Assembly Building 
on Monday after a short roll from the nearby Orbiter Processing 
Facility. In the assembly building's transfer aisle, Endeavour was 
lifted vertically, transferred to a high bay and attached to its 
external tank and solid rocket boosters. STS-118 will be the first 
flight for Endeavour since 2002.

On July 3, Orbiter Atlantis made its graceful landing at Kennedy Space 
Center mounted atop a modified 747 jetliner called the Shuttle Carrier 
Aircraft, officially concluding the STS-117 mission.

+ STS-118 Mission Overview 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/index.html> 

+ STS-117 Mission Summary 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/sts117_overview.html> 
| + Photos and Videos 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/multimedia/index.html>