NASA Gives 'Go' for Space Shuttle Launch on June 8

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05.31.07

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarers, Washington
202-358-3749

Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

RELEASE: 07-127

NASA GIVES 'GO' FOR SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH ON JUNE 8

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - On Thursday, NASA senior managers selected June 
8 as the official launch date for Space Shuttle Atlantis. Commander 
Rick Sturckow and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 7:38 
p.m. EDT on the STS-117 mission to the International Space Station.

During the 11-day mission and three spacewalks, the crew will work 
with flight controllers at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, to 
install a 17-ton segment on the station's girder-like truss and 
deploy a set of solar arrays. The mission will increase the 
International Space Station's power capability in preparation for the 
arrival of new science modules from the European and Japanese space 
agencies.

Atlantis' launch date was announced at the Flight Readiness Review. 
During the two-day meeting, top NASA and contractor managers assess 
any risks associated with the mission and determine whether the 
shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for 
flight. The first Flight Readiness Review for STS-117 was held Feb. 
27-28. A hail storm on Feb. 26, however, damaged Atlantis' external 
fuel tank and delayed the planned mid-March launch.

"While we cannot control the weather, this team can ensure that when 
we do launch, it will be as safely as possible," said Associate 
Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier, who chaired the 
meetings. "This second Flight Readiness Review was as thorough as the 
first. The discussions were open, healthy, and are evidence of a team 
that is ready for a complicated and important station assembly 
mission."

Joining Commander Sturckow on STS-117 will be Pilot Lee Archambault 
and Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, John 
"Danny" Olivas, Jim Reilly and Clayton Anderson. Anderson will 
replace current station crew member Sunita Williams, who has lived on 
the station since December. Williams will return to Earth on 
Atlantis.

For more information about the STS-117 mission, including images and 
interviews with the crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

	
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