SUBM.ITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Atlantis In Final Hold of Countdown*

/ Sept. 9, 10:55 a.m. EDT / The countdown to launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis is currently in the final 40-minute "hold," freezing the clock at nine minutes to go. The hold gives the crew and controllers time to make any last minutes checks of the weather and vehicle functions before starting the final countdown to fire the space shuttle's engines. The clock will begin ticking again at 11:06 a.m. and signal the handover of the countdown from launch control to Atlantis' systems and a special computer called the Ground Launch Sequencer.

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