Nov 10, 2007

Candrea Thomas Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 candrea k thomas@nasa gov

Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-3749 katherine trinidad@nasa gov

RELEASE: 07-290

SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla - After safely reaching its launch pad Saturday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the space shuttle Atlantis now awaits its next major milestone for the upcoming STS-122 mission The full launch dress rehearsal is scheduled from Nov 18 to 20 at Kennedy

The shuttle arrived at the pad about 10 a m EST Saturday on top of a giant vehicle called the crawler-transporter The crawler-transporter began carrying Atlantis out of Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building at 4:43 a m , traveling less than 1 mph during the 3 4 mile journey Atlantis achieved hard down and was firmly on the launch pad at 11:51 a m

Atlantis is targeted to launch Dec 6 on an 11-day mission to the International Space Station The shuttle's seven crew members will deliver the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station and bring a new crew member to the station and return another to Earth

Atlantis' crew members are Commander Steve Frick, Pilot Alan Poindexter and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love, and Hans Schlegel and Léopold Eyharts of the European Space Agency Eyharts will replace current Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel Tani Eyharts will return to Earth aboard STS-123, which is targeted to launch Feb 14, 2008 Tani will return to Earth aboard Atlantis He launched to the station with the STS-120 crew

The STS-122 astronauts and ground crews will participate in a launch dress rehearsal, known as the terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT The test provides each shuttle crew with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training STS-122 is the 121st space shuttle flight, the 29th flight for space shuttle Atlantis and the 24th flight to the station

The following media events are associated with the test All times are Eastern

• Nov 17 - STS-122 Crew Arrival: The crew will arrive at 9 p m at the Shuttle Landing Facility and make a statement The arrival will not be broadcast live but will be part of the NASA TV Video File
• Nov 19 - STS-122 Crew Media Q&A: The crew will take media questions at Launch Pad 39A at 9:35 a m The session will be carried on a delay on NASA TV
• Nov 20 - STS-122 Crew Walkout Photo Opportunity: The astronauts will depart from the Operations and Checkout Building at 7:45 a m in their flight entry suits in preparation for the countdown demonstration test at the launch pad The walkout will not be broadcast live but will be part of the NASA TV Video File

Dates and times of events are subject to change Schedule updates are available at 321-867-2525

New foreign media accreditation for these events is closed U S media without permanent Kennedy Space Center credentials must apply for accreditation online by 4:30 p m , Wednesday, Nov 15 at:

https://media ksc nasa gov

To attend crew arrival, reporters must pick up badges by 4 p m Friday, Nov 16, at the Pass & I D Building 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/kennedy/news/media html

Video b-roll of the terminal countdown demonstration test will be available on the NASA TV Video File For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www nasa gov/ntv

For information about the STS-122 mission and crew, visit:

http://www nasa gov/shuttle

-end-

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