SUBMIOTTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468
*Astronauts at the Pad *
*Launch Time: * 7:38 p.m. EDT
Image above: One by one, the STS-117 astronauts are strapped in for launch. Image credit: NASA + View Launch Day Photo Gallery http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/multimedia/launch/launch.html
TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
*06.08.07 - 4:45 p.m. EDT* The STS-117 crew is at Launch Pad 39A. A short elevator ride to the 195-foot level takes the astronauts to the White Room where one by one each crewmember is assisted by NASA's closeout crew as they prepare to board the shuttle. Their flight suits are checked and an orange glow stick is tucked into the pocket of each suit for safety.
Commander Sturckow was first to be secured in his seat, followed by pilot Lee Archambault on the flight deck. As rest of the crew members are seated and strapped in, Sturckow began powering up the orbiter's general purpose computer for flight.
*Follow the live countdown coverage in progress:* + NASA TV http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html + Launch Blog http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/launch/index_Launch-blog.html
*Mission and Crew* Mission STS-117 is the Space Shuttle Program's 21st mission to the International Space Station. Rick Sturckow will command the mission and Lee Archambault will serve as Atlantis' pilot. Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester, James Reilly, Steven Swanson, John Olivas and Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson round out the crew to deliver the S3/S4 starboard truss segments, batteries and another pair of solar arrays to the space station. Anderson will replace Expedition 15 Flight Engineer Sunita Williams on station and Williams will return to Earth aboard Atlantis.