SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C#31468

*Poor Weather Delays Landing; Next Opportunity at 3:30*

Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space CenterImage above: The Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., awaits the arrival of space shuttle Atlantis. Image credit: NASA TV

TO VIEW CLOUD CONDITIONS GO TO: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.ht

An unfavorable weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., forced flight controllers to pass on STS-117’s first landing opportunity. Hopes now turn to the day’s second opportunity at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

The culprit is thunderstorms in the vicinity of the Shuttle Landing Facility. Flight controllers and forecasters with the Spaceflight Meteorology Group continue to monitor weather conditions at and around the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Florida spaceport.

Chief Astronaut Steve Lindsey has been providing additional weather information while flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft in the vicinity of the landing facility.

If flight controllers give STS-117 the go-ahead to land on the second opportunity, Orbit 203, Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Lee Archambault will fire Atlantis’ thrusters at 2:25 p.m. to begin the descent to Florida.

If flight controllers wave off for second time today, opportunities are available Friday in Florida and at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Atlantis launched June 8 and arrived at the International Space Station June 10. While at the orbital outpost, the crew installed the Starboard 3 and 4 truss segment and conducted four spacewalks to activate it. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116. If Atlantis lands on the first opportunity, Williams’ spaceflight will end at 193 days, 16 hours and 8 minutes. STS-117 is the 118th shuttle mission and 21st mission to visit the space station. The next mission, STS-118, is slated to launch in August.

STS-117 is the 118th shuttle mission and 21st mission to visit th