Image: Space Shuttle Atlantis arrives on Launch Pad 39A after a six-hour trek, via the crawler-transporter. Photo credit: NASA/Ken Thornsley

The Space Shuttle Atlantis arrived at Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:09 p.m. EST. Atlantis began its 3.4 mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building at 8:19 a.m. It traveled just under 1 mph.

The launch of Mission STS-117 will be the first liftoff from Pad 39A in four years.

The next milestone for this mission is a full launch dress rehearsal, known as the terminal countdown demonstration test from Feb. 21 to 23 at Kennedy. The test provides the crew an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency egress training.

The flight of Atlantis to the International Space Station has been targeted for March 15. During the 11-day mission, the six-member crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties.

Commanding the 117 crew is Frederick Sturckow, a veteran of two shuttle missions (STS-88, STS-105), while Lee Archambault will be making his first flight as the shuttle's pilot. Mission Specialists James Reilly (STS-89, STS-104) and Patrick Forrester (STS-105) will be returning to the station. Steven Swanson and John Olivas, both mission specialists, join the crew for their first flight into space.

STS-117 Mission

• The Crew
• The Mission
• The Integrated Truss Structure

Media Resources

• STS-117 Press Kit (5.9 Mb PDF)

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