08/26/06: STS-115: Atlantis, Crew and Payload Ready to Fly.

Launch Date:Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT
Orbiter: Atlantis (OV-104)
Mission Number: Shuttle flight No. 116
Launch Pad: 39B
Mission Duration: 11 days
Landing Site: KSC
Inclination/Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Primary Payload: Nineteenth station flight (12A), P3/P4 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean, Stefanyshyn-Piper

At the Launch Readiness Press Conference yesterday evening, LeRoy Cain, launch integration manager for the Space Shuttle Program, described launch preparations by saying, "We feel very good about where we are going into the weekend."

Aug 09 2006: The STS-115 crew poses for the media before a press conference on Launch Pad 39B. Seen left to right are Mission Specialist Steven MacLean, Commander Brent Jett, Mission Specialist Daniel Burbank, Pilot Chris Ferguson, and Mission Specialists Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Joseph Tanner. MacLean is with the Canadian Space Agency. The mission crew is at KSC for Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities that are preparation for launch on Space Shuttle Atlantis, scheduled to take place in a window that opens Aug. 27. Behind the crew is the shuttle, surrounded by the fixed and rotating service structures, with the orange external tank and while solid rocket boosters showing. The TCDT culminates in a simulated launch countdown. During their 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew will continue construction of the station and attach the payload elements, the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach explained that despite storms Friday at the Kennedy Space Center, the early start of the countdown Thursday means that preparations should be right on schedule.

Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center spoke about the mission to resume construction of the space station after almost four years, saying the crew members on the station are ready to go.

U.S. Air Force First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station provided an update on the prospects for launch-day weather issues. As of Friday evening, he reported that there is still only a 40 percent change of "no go" due to weather for Sunday's launch.

Saturday evening at Launch Pad 39B, the rotating service structure is scheduled to move away from the shuttle at about 7:30 p.m. EDT and Atlantis will stand ready for liftoff.

The Atlantis crew arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida Thursday to begin final preparations for mission STS-115. Flying T-38 trainer jets, the astronauts landed at the Shuttle Landing Facility at 11:30 a.m. EDT.

Commander Brent Jett introduced the crew and spoke briefly about the upcoming mission to the International Space Station. "Speaking for myself and my fellow crewmates, I can assure you that we are ready for the challenge and we're ready to restart the assembly sequence." He added, "We have a saying back in Texas: 'It's time to walk the walk.' "

Mission Specialist Joe Tanner expressed the crew's appreciation to all the space workers who have worked tirelessly to prepare for the mission, adding, "When we climb aboard Atlantis on Sunday, we do so with confidence that the vehicle is ready, prepared by the best technicians, engineers and managers in the business."

The STS-115 crew consists of Commander Brent W. Jett Jr., Pilot Christopher J. Ferguson and Mission Specialists Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joseph R. Tanner, Daniel C. Burbank and Steven G. MacLean, who represents the Canadian Space Agency.

With this mission, NASA is ready to get back to building the International Space Station, marking the first time in almost four years that a space station component has been added to the orbiting outpost. That also means the shuttle program is coming up on some of the most challenging space missions ever.

During their three spacewalks, crew members of Atlantis will install the P3/P4 integrated truss and a second set of solar arrays on the space station, doubling the station’s current ability to generate power from sunlight and adding 17.5 tons to its mass.

- courtesy of NASA