[sarex] LAUNCH COVERAGE

[Arthur Rowe <azrowe80@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468


	LAUNCH COVERAGE

	
  	
  	*Space Shuttle Mission STS-117 *

*Orbiter*: Atlantis 
<http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/atlantis-info.html> 

*Mission*: Space Station Assembly Building - 13A 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/mission_overview.html> 

*Primary Payload:*: S3/S4 Truss
*Launch Target *: To Be Determined
*Launch Pad*: 39A 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch-complex39-toc.html> 

*Mission Duration*: 11 days
*Inclination/Altitude:* 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

  Image above: Space Shuttle Atlantis makes its slow journey back to the 
Vehicle Assembly Building for hail damage assessment. Photo credit: 
NASA/Amanda Diller



TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/index.html


*Shuttle Repair to be Determined*

*03.05.07*
Space Shuttle Atlantis was rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building 
from Launch Pad 39A on Sunday. Further inspection of the external tank 
is necessary to get an accurate appraisal of foam damage caused by a 
severe thunderstorm with hail in February.

Last week NASA's Space Shuttle Program managers met for the Flight 
Readiness Review. There was a unanimous decision to proceed with the 
STS-117 mission, pending the work to make necessary repairs to the damage.

Once the damage is assessed and the type of repairs determined, a new 
launch date will be set. The next launch window opportunity opens in 
late April.


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