March 25, 2009

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov

John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
john.yembrick-1@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-047

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

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll
out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on
Tuesday, March 31, as preparations for the STS-125 mission move
forward. Atlantis is targeted to lift off May 12 to service NASA's
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 fuel 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.

NASA Television will provide live coverage of Atlantis' rollout to the
launch pad beginning at 7 a.m. Video highlights will air on the NASA
TV Video File.

Media are invited to a photo opportunity of the shuttle's move to the
pad and an interview opportunity with Atlantis Flow Director Angie
Brewer at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. 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 6:30 a.m. Tuesday
for transportation to the viewing area. Foreign news media
accreditation for this event is closed.

U.S. media without permanent Kennedy Space Center credentials must
apply for accreditation online by 4 p.m., Sunday, March 29, at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Badges can be picked up through Tuesday at the Kennedy Badging Office
on State Road 405. The badging office opens at 6 a.m.

During Atlantis' 11-day mission, the crew of seven astronauts will
make the final shuttle flight to Hubble. During five spacewalks, they
will install two new instruments, repair two inactive ones and
replace components. The result will be six working, complementary
science instruments with capabilities beyond what is now available,
and an extended operational lifespan for the telescope through at
least 2014.

Scott Altman will be the commander of Atlantis. Gregory C. Johnson
will be the 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 information about the STS-125 mission and crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/hubble