Atlantis Is Go For Rollout

SHUTTLE NEWS

In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians are inspecting the sanding performed on Atlantis' external tank nose cone to repair hail damage caused by a late February storm. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

by Staff Writers
Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) May 15, 2007
Good progress was made on the final repairs on Atlantis' external tank over the weekend. Space Program managers have decided to rollout the vehicle to Launch Pad 39A on Tuesday morning, with first motion scheduled for 4:00 a.m. EDT. After last week's rollout review meeting, NASA officials announced that repairs on the external tank on Space Shuttle Atlantis have been completed.

"The teams have done a phenomenal job of repairing this tank," said Bill Gerstenmaier, space operations associate administrator. "We've done a lot of extra reviews to make sure we didn't miss anything -- a lot of testing...to make sure things were done right and they've done a great job."

Wayne Hale, Space Program manager gave a lot of credit to the hundreds of workers across the country who pulled together for the repair project. "We're really proud of what they have done...in an unexpected circumstance amidst all the other work they have to do," said Hale.

John Chapman, manager of the external tank project pointed out that the tank will have a speckled appearance but it will not affect performance or safety.

There will be a flight readiness review held on May 30, 31 and a media event will be held afterwards to discuss the results of the meeting.

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SHUTTLE NEWS

Shuttle Atlantis To Hit Launchpad Next Week

Washington (AFP) May 11, 2007
The US space agency said Friday it would roll the space shuttle Atlantis to its launchpad on May 16, after a March launch was delayed by hail damage to the orbiter's external fuel tank. With repairs to the damage incurred during a severe Florida storm finally complete, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will hold a flight readiness review on May 30-31, and the shuttle could launch as early as June 8.

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