Atlantis departs hangar ahead of August 28 launch
[[Image:KSC-95EC-0950.jpg|left|thumb|''Atlantis'']]
{{NASA-Atlantis_Infobox}}
{{date|July 24, 2006}}

The [[w:Space Shuttle|Space Shuttle]] [[w:Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]] has entered final preparation for mission [[w:STS-115|STS-115]], and has begun movement from its hangar at the [[w:Orbiter Processing Facility|OPF]], to the [[w:Vehicle Assembly Building|VAB]], where it will be attached to its external tank and solid rocket boosters. The first motion occurred at 11:34 GMT (07:34 EDT)

This will be the third mission since the [[w:Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia]] on mission STS-107, and the first [[w:International Space Station|ISS]] assembly mission in four years. It will also be the first time Atlantis has flown since 2002.

The move, which is currently in progress, is expected to take about an hour. Rollout to the pad is scheduled for August 1st, ahead of an August 28th launch date. It is possible that these may be brought forward for an August 27th launch, which would make it the first time in [[w:NASA|NASA]] history a manned spaceflight has occurred earlier than originally scheduled.

The flight will deliver a truss and solar panels to the space station.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts115/status.html
|title=Mission STS-115 Status|author=Justin Ray|pub=SpaceFlight Now|date=July 24, 2006}} 

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[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle Atlantis]]
Atlantis

The Space Shuttle Atlantis has entered final preparation for mission STS-115, and has begun movement from its hangar at the OPF, to the VAB, where it will be attached to its external tank and solid rocket boosters. The first motion occurred at 11:34 GMT (07:34 EDT)

This will be the third mission since the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-107, and the first ISS assembly mission in four years. It will also be the first time Atlantis has flown since 2002.

The move, which is currently in progress, is expected to take about an hour. Rollout to the pad is scheduled for August 1st, ahead of an August 28th launch date. It is possible that these may be brought forward for an August 27th launch, which would make it the first time in NASA history a manned spaceflight has occurred earlier than originally scheduled.

The flight will deliver a truss and solar panels to the space station.
Space Science and technology United States North America Space Shuttle Atlantis