Post by Liam O'Reilly on Aug 26, 2006 10:30:53 GMT
The US space shuttle Atlantis is set to lift off on Sunday on a construction mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Its six-strong crew is taking giant new power-generating solar arrays to the ISS.
The mission marks only the third shuttle flight since the loss of Columbia and seven astronauts in 2003.
The half-built $100bn space station must be completed before 2010, when the shuttle fleet is due to be retired.
Atlantis and its astronauts are scheduled to lift off at 1630 local time (2030 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Atlantis crew arrived at Cape Canaveral on Thursday for final launch preparations.
"There's been a lot of talk in the press lately about Nasa being back," commander Brent Jett told reporters. "But we have a saying back in Texas: 'It's time to walk the walk'."
Jett will fly with pilot Chris Ferguson, flight engineer Dan Burbank, and mission specialists Joe Tanner, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, and Steve MacLean of the Canadian Space Agency.
During the 11-day mission, the crew will undertake three spacewalks to complete their construction duties.
"I can assure you that we are ready for the challenge," Jett said. "All we need is a little good weather on Sunday and we'll be out of here."
Some 16 shuttle flights are needed to finish the ISS. Nasa hopes one orbiter flight can also be found to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
Its six-strong crew is taking giant new power-generating solar arrays to the ISS.
The mission marks only the third shuttle flight since the loss of Columbia and seven astronauts in 2003.
The half-built $100bn space station must be completed before 2010, when the shuttle fleet is due to be retired.
Atlantis and its astronauts are scheduled to lift off at 1630 local time (2030 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Atlantis crew arrived at Cape Canaveral on Thursday for final launch preparations.
"There's been a lot of talk in the press lately about Nasa being back," commander Brent Jett told reporters. "But we have a saying back in Texas: 'It's time to walk the walk'."
Jett will fly with pilot Chris Ferguson, flight engineer Dan Burbank, and mission specialists Joe Tanner, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, and Steve MacLean of the Canadian Space Agency.
During the 11-day mission, the crew will undertake three spacewalks to complete their construction duties.
"I can assure you that we are ready for the challenge," Jett said. "All we need is a little good weather on Sunday and we'll be out of here."
Some 16 shuttle flights are needed to finish the ISS. Nasa hopes one orbiter flight can also be found to service the Hubble Space Telescope.