Sept 7, 2006

Tracy Young/Katherine Trinidad Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468

RELEASE: 06-401

NASA'S SHUTTLE ATLANTIS SET TO LIFT OFF FRIDAY

NASA has set Space Shuttle Atlantis' launch for Friday, Sept 8, at 11:41 a m EDT Shuttle program managers made the lift-off decision after reviewing more detailed data on a problem associated with one of the spacecraft's electricity-producing fuel cells

Mission managers will review an additional piece of analysis before the shuttle's external fuel tank is loaded at 1:45 a m EDT Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale said he was confident the results of the analysis would support the launch decision

Tuesday night as ground teams were preparing for a scheduled Wednesday launch attempt, a voltage spike in the motor of Atlantis' fuel cell

1 coolant pump was observed during the activation of the shuttle's

three fuel cells The coolant pump circulates Freon through the fuel cell to prevent it from overheating during flights

If Friday's launch is delayed, there could be another attempt Saturday at 11:15 a m EDT

During Atlantis' mission, STS-115, astronauts will deliver and install the P3/P4 truss, a girder-like structure, with solar arrays that will double the International Space Station's power capability

Atlantis' crew consists of Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson and mission specialists Dan Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joe Tanner and Steve MacLean, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut

For the latest information about the STS-115 mission and its crew and more information about space shuttle fuel cells, visit:

http://www nasa gov/shuttle

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