Aug. 25, 2008

John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0602
john.yembrick-1@nasa.gov

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-159

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS TO MOVE TO LAUNCH PAD SATURDAY

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out
to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug.
30. Atlantis is targeted to lift off Oct. 8 to repair the Hubble
Space Telescope.

The first motion of the shuttle out of Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly
Building is scheduled for 12:01 a.m. EDT. The fully assembled space
shuttle, consisting of the orbiter, external tank and twin solid
rocket boosters, was mounted on a mobile launcher platform and will
be delivered to the pad atop a crawler-transporter. The crawler will
travel slower than 1 mph during the 3.4-mile journey. The process is
expected to take approximately six hours.

Repairs to Launch Pad 39A's flame trench wall were completed Aug. 5
after crews installed a steel grid structure and covered it in a
heat-resistant material. The pad's north flame trench was damaged
when bricks tore away from the wall during the May 31 launch of space
shuttle Discovery.

NASA Television will provide live coverage of Atlantis' move to the
launch pad beginning at 6:30 a.m. Video highlights of the rollout
will air on NASA TV Video File.

Media are invited to a photo opportunity of roll out and an interview
availability with Atlantis Flow Director Angie Brewer at 8 a.m.
Saturday. Dates and times of this event are subject to change.
Updates are available by calling 321-867-2525.

Reporters must arrive at Kennedy's news center by 6 a.m. Saturday for
transportation to the viewing area. Foreign news media accreditation
for this event has closed. Foreign media with credentials must arrive
at the Pass and I-D Building on State Road 3 by 6 a.m. for
transportation to the news center. U.S. media without permanent
Kennedy Space Center credentials must apply for accreditation online
by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at:



https://media.ksc.nasa.gov


Badges must be picked up by 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at the new Kennedy
Badging Office on State Road 405, west of Gate 3 (just past the
Kennedy Visitor's Complex).

During its 11-day mission that includes five spacewalks, the STS-125's
crew of seven astronauts will install two new instruments in Hubble,
as well as replace the Fine Guidance Sensor. The result will be six
working, complementary science instruments with capabilities beyond
those now available, and an extended operational lifespan of the
telescope through at least 2013.

Atlantis will be commanded by Scott Altman. Gregory C. Johnson will be
pilot. Mission Specialists will be John Grunsfeld, Mike Massimino,
Megan McArthur, Andrew Feustel and Michael Good.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information about the STS-125 mission and crew, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

You may follow the mission on:
http://thomas-wehr.homeip.net/space/missioncontrolcenter.php

Switch to HST to see the Hubble approach