Dec. 9, 2007

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

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

RELEASE: 07-273

NASA TARGETS SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS LAUNCH ON JAN. 2

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Atlantis' STS-122 mission to the
International Space Station now is targeted to launch no earlier than
Jan. 2 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The liftoff date depends on
the resolution of a problem in a fuel sensor system.

Early Sunday, one of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors inside
the liquid hydrogen section of Atlantis' external fuel tank gave a
false reading while the tank was being filled. NASA's current Launch
Commit Criteria require that all four sensors function properly.

The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's main
engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.
Atlantis' scheduled launch on Thursday, Dec. 6, was delayed after two
liquid hydrogen ECO sensors gave false readings.

The main objective of Atlantis' 11-day mission is to install and
activate the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory, which will
provide scientists around the world the ability to conduct a variety
of life, physical and materials science experiments.

For the latest information about the STS-122 mission and the ECO
sensor system, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle