Atlantis Crew Preps for Launch

Posted on: Aug. 15th, 2006 || Source: nasa.gov | E-mail Article | Print Article

Shuttle Flight Readiness Review Begins Today

The traditional two-day flight readiness review, a thorough assessment of preparations for mission STS-115, begins today at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The meeting is designed to produce a number of key decisions about Atlantis' mission, including the selection of a targeted launch date.

Before each mission, the review is conducted by top-level NASA officials, Space Shuttle Program managers, engineers and contractors approximately two weeks prior to the opening of the launch window. They examine the readiness of the space shuttle, flight crew and payloads to determine if everything is set to proceed for launch.

Following the conclusion of the review on Wednesday, officials will host a news conference to announce the official launch date for STS-115.

Launch Dress Rehearsal Completed

Mission STS-115 training exercises culminated last week in Florida with a launch dress rehearsal and simulated countdown with the look and feel of a real launch day. The astronauts suited up in their familiar bright-orange launch and entry suits before leaving for the launch pad aboard the "Astrovan," just as they will on launch day. At the pad, they were strapped in their seats aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis as the launch team took them through the mock countdown.

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.

During their 11 days in space, the astronauts will install the integrated P3/P4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays that will provide one-fourth of the total power generation capability of the completed station.
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