SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

LAUNCH COVERAGE

*Space Shuttle Mission STS-117 *

*Orbiter*: Atlantis http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/atlantis-info.html

*Mission*: Space Station Assembly Building - 13A http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/mission_overview.html

*Primary Payload:*: S3/S4 Truss *Launch Target *: To Be Determined *Launch Pad*: 39A http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch-complex39-toc.html

*Mission Duration*: 11 days *Inclination/Altitude:* 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Image above: Space Shuttle Atlantis makes its slow journey back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for hail damage assessment. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller

TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/index.html

*Shuttle Repair to be Determined*

*03.05.07* Space Shuttle Atlantis was rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building from Launch Pad 39A on Sunday. Further inspection of the external tank is necessary to get an accurate appraisal of foam damage caused by a severe thunderstorm with hail in February.

Last week NASA's Space Shuttle Program managers met for the Flight Readiness Review. There was a unanimous decision to proceed with the STS-117 mission, pending the work to make necessary repairs to the damage.

Once the damage is assessed and the type of repairs determined, a new launch date will be set. The next launch window opportunity opens in late April.