The Space Shuttle Atlantis was transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, February 7, 2007. The rollover marks the start of the journey to Launch Pad 39A. The launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on its mission, designated STS-117, to the International Space Station is targeted for March 15.
STS 115 - SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS RENDEZVOUS PITCH MANEUVER
Before docking, Commander Brent Jett and Pilot Chris Ferguson commanded Atlantis to do a back flip maneuver, which allowed the Expedition 13 crew to photograph Atlantis' heat shield. Those pictures will be downlinked to engineers on the ground for analysis.
Coach Frank Rijkaard, members of the European champion FC Barcelona, Spain soccer team offered congratulations to the Expedition 13 crew aboard the International Space Station during a visit to Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center, Houston Aug. 8, 2006. The team is in Houston to play the Houston Dynamo soccer team on Aug. 9.
First Independence Day Space Shuttle Launch 2006
STS-121 Discovery/ 18th International Space Station Flight ULF1.1
Launch Pad: 39B
Launched: July 4, 2006
Launch Time: 2:38 p.m. EDT
Landing: July 16, 2006
Duration: 12 days
Orbital Insertion Altitude: 122 nautical miles
Orbit Inclination: 51.60°
Countdown begins: T-43 hours
Space Shuttle Atlantis is on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The orbiter made the 3-1/2 mile rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building May 15, 2007 after repairs to its external tank were completed. A February hailstorm damaged the tank. The launch of STS-117 to the International Space Station is now targeted for the evening of June 8.
