SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Launch Preparations Continue*

*Launch Time: * 7:38 p.m. EDT

Image above: The Final Inspection Team, or Ice Team, inspects the external tank at Launch Pad 39A. 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 - 3:00 p.m. EDT* The Final Inspection Team -- also known as the "Ice Team" -- is at the launch pad inspecting the space shuttle's exterior. The team will spend about two hours checking the external tank to make sure it is in good condition and free of ice and debris.

There is an 80 percent chance of favorable weather at launch time this evening.

The loading of Atlantis' external tank with 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen began at 9:55 a.m. The "topping off" of propellants into the tank will continue until launch. All systems onboard the space shuttle are functioning normally and ready for liftoff.

*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.

*Launch + 1 hour - Post-launch News Conference * - Rex Geveden, NASA associate administrator - Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations - John Shannon, chairman, Mission Management Team - Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director + NASA TV http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

*STS-117 Mission* + The Crew http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/index.html

+ The Mission http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/mission_overview.html

+ The Integrated Truss Structure http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/its.html