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Atlantis scheduled for June 8 lift
off
5 June, 2007
Space shuttle Atlantis would take off
for outer space on June 8, 2007 to
deliver new solar arrays to the
International Space Station (ISS.) The
decision has been given the NASA nod.
The STS-117 mission will see the
delivery of the second and third
starboard truss segments and a new
pair of solar arrays to the space
station, which will be installed
during three planned spacewalks. The
STS-117 solar arrays are the third of
four US-built power-generating wings
to launch towards the ISS before the
station's planned completion in 2010,
said a report.
On June 8, 2007, 7:38 EDT(2338 GMT),
the shuttle will lift off, as decided
by a Flight Readiness Review meeting
by mission managers and engineers, a
news agency report said. The NASA
authorities said that there are no
show stoppers ahead of the lift off
program.
Earlier, it had been reported that the
11-day STS-117 mission was set for
March 15. However, it was delayed
owing to hail damage to the orbiter's
foam-covered external tank in February
last. NASA isn’t taking any chances
this time around. The Atlantis will
have an all-male crew.
Reports from NASA said that Atlantis
has a clear launch window from June 8
to 12. If the shuttle fails to launch
by June 12, it will stand down for
four days to allow the scheduled
launch of a Lockheed Martin Atlas
rocket on June 14. The next launch
opportunity will then be June 17, they
added.
Also, Expedition 15/16 flight engineer
Clay Anderson will fly aboard
Atlantis, and will replace Expedition
15 flight engineer Sunita Williams.
Williams has been aboard the station
since December 2006. She will return
to Earth with the STS-117 crew.
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