NASA'S Shuttle Atlantis At Launch Pad, Liftoff Practice Set
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- After safely reaching its launch pad at NASA'sKennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis awaits the
next major milestone for its upcoming STS-135 mission to the
International Space Station, the final flight of the Space Shuttle
Program. The mission with four veteran astronauts is targeted to launch July 8.
Atlantis arrived at the pad early Wednesday morning on top of a giant
crawler-transporter. The crawler-transporter left Kennedy's Vehicle
Assembly Building at 8:42 p.m. EDT Tuesday, May 31, and travelled
less than 1 mph during the 3.4-mile journey. The shuttle was secured
on the launch pad at 3:29 a.m. Wednesday.
Reporters are invited to cover a launch dress rehearsal, known as the
Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT), scheduled at Kennedy
from June 20 to 23. The TCDT provides Atlantis' astronauts and ground
crews with an opportunity to participate in various simulated
countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training.
During the TCDT, media will have the opportunity to tour shuttle
Discovery and interview experts from inside the spacecraft on June
21. Discovery currently is being decommissioned and prepared for
display at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
The following media events are associated with the TCDT. All times are
Eastern Daylight Time.
-- June 20: STS-135 crew arrival: The astronauts will arrive at
approximately 4:45 p.m. at the Shuttle Landing Facility and make a
statement. NASA Television will broadcast the arrival live.
-- June 21: Discovery Media Day: Interview and photo opportunities
will be held throughout the day in Orbiter Processing Facility-2.
Shuttle experts will be available for interviews from Discovery's
crew compartment. Spaces are limited. To sign up for this
opportunity, contact Candrea Thomas at candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov.
-- June 22: STS-135 crew media availability: The crew will take media
questions at Launch Pad 39A at 8:40 a.m. NASA TV will carry the
session live.
-- June 23: STS-135 crew walkout photo opportunity: The astronauts
will depart from the Operations and Checkout Building at 7:45 a.m. in
their launch entry suits in preparation for the countdown
demonstration test at the launch pad. The walkout will be part of the
NASA TV Video File, but not covered live.
Updates for all events are available at 321-867-2525. To attend the
TCDT, international journalists must apply by 5 p.m. on June 12, to
allow time for processing. U.S. media representatives must apply by
June 16. Reporters requesting accreditation must apply online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
To attend crew arrival, reporters must pick up badges between 6 a.m.
and 3 p.m. on June 20, at the Kennedy Space Center Badging Office on
State Road 405. For information about covering these events,
including proper attire and meeting locations, credentialed media should visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/
During the 12-day flight, Atlantis and its crew will deliver the
Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module filled with supplies and
spare parts to sustain station operations once NASA's shuttle fleet is retired.
For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For more information about the STS-135 mission and crew, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
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