SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PREPARES FOR AUGUST 2006 LAUNCH

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Dozens of employees accompany the orbiter Atlantis on its rollover from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. The launch window for Atlantis begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays.









After its overnight rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building, Space Shuttle Atlantis rests on the hard stand on Launch Pad 39B. The shuttle sits on top of the mobile launcher platform. The crawler, which transported it, is still underneath.




















http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-115/launch_team.html

















Image above: With the tracks of the crawler transporter visible in the foreground, Space Shuttle Atlantis is in position at Launch Pad 39B for lift off of mission STS-115 to the International Space Station.
Atlantis' slow, 4.2-mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the pad began at 1:05 a.m. Riding atop the mobile launch platform and carried by the crawler transporter, the orbiter is attached to its external tank, flanked by two solid rocket boosters. At the pad, the vehicle will be enclosed by the rotating service structure during its preparation for launch. From there the payload for the mission will be loaded into the cargo bay. The launch window for this mission to resume construction of the International Space Station opens Aug. 27. 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.

+ Learn more about the STS-115 crew
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.


+ Learn more about the P3/P4 truss segment




















Image above: STS115-S-002 -- The crew of STS-115 takes a break from training to pose for a group portrait. Astronauts Brent W. Jett, Jr. (right) and Christopher J. Ferguson, commander and pilot, respectively, flank the mission insignia. The mission specialists are, from left to right, astronauts Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joseph R. (Joe) Tanner, Daniel C. Burbank, and Steven G. MacLean, who represents the Canadian Space Agency. Credit: NASAMore about the crew here:


http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/

MORE PICS OF THE CREW HERE..
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-115/ndxpage1.html

ALOT OF OTHER GOOD LINKS HERE:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-115/launch_team.html

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/countdown101.html

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/countdown101.html