SUBMITTED BY ARTHUIR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Launch Day Arrives, Tanking Begins*

/ Sept. 8, 4:20 a.m. EDT (0820 UTC)/ At Launch Pad 39B, the three-hour process for loading of Space Shuttle Atlantis' orange external tank with 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen began at 2:49 a.m EDT this morning. The "topping off" of propellants into the tank will continue until liftoff. All systems onboard the space shuttle are functioning normally and are ready for launch at 11:41 a.m. (1541 UTC)

Throughout the morning, the STS-115 astronauts will prepare for launch in the Operations and Checkout Building's crew quarters before taking the 20-minute ride to the launch pad about 7:50 a.m. this morning aboard the Astrovan.

Launch weather remains at 70 percent "go" for launch, with the primary concern for rain within 20 miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility. No other issues are being addressed by the launch team at this time.

*Mission Management Briefing* During a Thursday evening news conference Wayne Hale, Space Shuttle Program manager, said the decision to fly came about after a lively and inclusive meeting with space shuttle mission managers and engineers held in the early afternoon. "If you ever wanted to see the difference between the old NASA and the new NASA, you should've been over there today. There was a chance for everyone to participate." Hale continued to say that the Mission Management team's vote to fly on Friday was nearly unanimous.

The decision to launch follows analysis of an issue found with one of Atlantis' three electricity-generating fuel cells, which was discovered during pre-launch preparations earlier this week. NASA engineers have determined that any failure of the suspect fuel cell during the mission poses no danger to Atlantis and its crew. They also believe two fuel cells alone would provide Atlantis with enough power to accomplish the major goals of the mission.

*Atlantis' Crew and Mission * 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 crew http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/index.html

With this mission, NASA is ready to get back to building the International Space Station, marking the first time in almost four years that a space station component has been added to the orbiting outpost. That also means the shuttle program is coming up on some of the most challenging space missions ever. + Learn more about the mission http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/mission_overview.html

During their three spacewalks, crew members of Atlantis will install the P3/P4 integrated truss and a second set of solar arrays on the space station, doubling the station’s current ability to generate power from sunlight and adding 17.5 tons to its mass. + Learn more about the truss http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/truss_segment.html