Space Shuttle, STS 122 Atlantis, Scheduled For Launch Thursday, February 07, 2008

Space Shuttle STS 122 Atlantis
Scheduled For Launch
Thursday, February 07, 2008
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Space Shuttle, STS 122 Atlantis, is scheduled for launch early Thursday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. EST from NASA's Florida launch base.
(Note: This post next to top today - Scroll for newer post below) Photo credit: NASA file photo by George Shelton
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* NASA.gov had this report out this morning and it goes like this...

After suiting up, the astronauts made their way out of the Crew Quarters in the Operations and Checkout Building to the cheers and applause from the crowd of well-wishers as they head for the silver Astrovan that will take them to Launch Pad 39A where Atlantis waits. Already at the launch pad, members of the Closeout Crew are inside Atlantis as they prepare the crew compartment for the astronauts' arrival. This crew helps the astronauts strap into their seats and prepare for launch.

Liftoff is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. EST, which is the middle of the 10-minute launch window. The timing is precise so Atlantis can catch up and dock with the International Space Station.

Forecasters expect a cold front to move over Kennedy around launch time, bringing with it clouds and storms, resulting in only a 30-percent chance of good weather for liftoff. Further, there is a possibility that the front may stall over Central Florida, providing only slightly better chances for acceptable weather for launch attempts on Friday or Saturday.

NASA has strict flight rules for weather that include limits on cloud height, storms in the area and clouds that could produce lightning. The criteria are set in part by the conditions a shuttle would need if it has to make an emergency landing soon after liftoff.

The good news for Atlantis and crew is that no technical issues are reported.

NASA astronaut Steve Frick commands a crew of six, including Pilot Alan Poindexter and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and the European Space Agency's Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts. This is the first spaceflight for Poindexter, Love and Melvin.

During the 11-day mission, the crew's prime objective is to attach the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station, adding to the station's size and capabilities.

Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel Tani, who arrived at the station aboard Discovery in October, will return to Earth with the Atlantis crew as Eyharts takes his place on the station

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Read the latest up to date Info on
Launch/Spacewalks/Mission
* HERE *
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Watch Launch and Mission LIVE
at NASA TELEVISION...
Click HERE To View
I’m watching it in Full Screen right now!
(To view coverage in FULL SCREEN, right click on video window, Click ZOOM - then on Full Screen)
ENJOY!!!
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* STS-122 Interactive Timeline - Click Here *

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I’ll be posting on the Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch
and its Mission over the next so many days...
So check back!!!
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UPDATE: 2:00pm CST
Cheers and shouts could be heard throughout the space center as Atlantis, carrying the STS-122 crew and Columbus Laboratory, roared off the launch pad into the mid-afternoon sky to begin the 24th mission to the International Space Station.
Congratulations on another successful launch of the Space Shuttle, Atlantis
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GOD SPEED to the Crew of STS 122 Atlantis...
AubreyJ.........
(I don’t know about you -- but I love this stuff!!!)