BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the countdown and flight of space shuttle Atlantis' construction mission to the International Space Station.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2007

The Atlantis astronauts packed up today for a hoped-for return to Earth Thursday to close out a dramatic space station assembly mission. Entry flight director Norm Knight said the shuttle's systems are operating normally and the only question mark is the weather, with forecasters calling for low clouds and afternoon showers at the Kennedy Space Center.

Read our full story.

A timeline of entry and landing is available here.

1230 GMT (8:30 a.m. EDT)

Keeping tabs on threatening weather, the Atlantis astronauts faced a busy day in space today, packing up equipment, setting up a recumbent seat for returning space station flier Sunita Williams and testing the shuttle's control systems to make sure they're ready for re-entry and landing Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center.

Read our full story.

TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2007
2245 GMT (6:45 p.m. EDT)

Read our updated undocking story with details from today's status briefing.

2240 GMT (6:40 p.m. EDT)

The shuttle inspections have been finished. The data will be reviewed by imagery experts on the ground before an all-clear is given on Atlantis' heat shield for Thursday's entry and landing.

2123 GMT (5:23 p.m. EDT)

Inspections of the starboard wing and Atlantis' nose cap have been completed. The port wing checks are about to begin now.

1915 GMT (3:15 p.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts have pulled the Orbiter Boom Sensor System out of the payload bay using the shuttle's robot arm for a series of heat shield inspections this afternoon. The inspections are similar to the ones performed the day after launch. Today's survey results will be compared with the earlier data to ensure the orbiter's wing leading edge panels and nose cap are free of any space debris impacts that could have occurred during the mission.

1629 GMT (12:29 p.m. EDT)

The shuttle is quickly departing the immediate vicinity of the space station following separation burn No. 2 at 12:28 p.m. The ship should be about 45 miles behind the outpost by later tonight.

The Atlantis crew will perform another series of heat shield inspections this afternoon, then pack up the cabin and test flight controls on Wednesday. The deorbit burn to begin reentry is scheduled for 12:52 p.m. EDT Thursday, with a mid-day touchdown on Kennedy Space Center's three-mile concrete runway at 1:54 p.m. EDT to conclude STS-117.

A backup landing opportunity at KSC is available an orbit later, with a deorbit burn at 2:28 p.m. and touchdown at 3:29 p.m. EDT. Weather could be a problem for both opportunities of the day.

The backup landing sites at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and White Sands Space Harbor, N.M., will not be considered on Thursday, NASA says.

The Friday landing times in Florida are 2:15 and 3:50 p.m. EDT. If weather forces the shuttle to Edwards, the landing opportunities for the Mojave Desert military base would be 5:20 and 6:55 p.m. EDT.

1600 GMT (12:00 p.m. EDT)

The shuttle is performing the first of two separation engine firings. Once at a point well above the station, the final burn is scheduled.

1557 GMT (11:57 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis is back out in front of the station to complete a full loop flyaround. Standing by for the first of two separation engine firings.

1547 GMT (11:47 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle is beneath the station now,about 650 feet away.

1539 GMT (11:39 a.m. EDT)

The flyaround continues smoothly. The spacecraft are about to cross over Europe.

1534 GMT (11:34 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis is reaching a point directly behind the station in terms of the direction of travel of the two spacecraft around the Earth, which is known as the -V bar.

1531 GMT (11:31 a.m. EDT)

The distance between the two spacecraft is now 673 feet.

1522 GMT (11:22 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis has reaching a point 575 feet directly above the space station.

The flyaround started with the shuttle in front of the station. It takes Atlantis to a point directly above the complex, then behind it, looping below and back out in front. After climbing above the station for a second time, the final separation engine firing will be performed. This burn will send Atlantis away from the vicinity of the station.

1518 GMT (11:18 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis is about 500 feet above the station as they fly over South America.

1515 GMT (11:15 a.m. EDT)

The addition of the new solar array truss makes the space station look like a whole new spacecraft. The station now has a mass of 509,000 pounds, and it will grow substantially larger over the next several months with arrival of the international science modules.

1512 GMT (11:12 a.m. EDT)

Pilot Lee Archambault has begun flying Atlantis in a one-lap flyaround of the station.

1510 GMT (11:10 a.m. EDT)

Now 450 feet.

1506 GMT (11:06 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle is now 395 feet away.

1502 GMT (11:02 a.m. EDT)

Here comes sunrise as the spacecraft fly over the Pacific Ocean. Atlantis is 340 feet from the station, separating at about 0.25 feet per second.

1457 GMT (10:57 a.m. EDT)

Now 200 feet between the shuttle and station. Orbital sunrise is coming up in a few minutes.

1455 GMT (10:55 a.m. EDT)

Read our undocking story here.

1452 GMT (10:52 a.m. EDT)

Distance between the two spacecraft is now 120 feet.

1446 GMT (10:46 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis is now 45 feet from the station, backing away at about 0.2 feet per second. The shuttle is headed to a point about 400 feet away where it will fire thrusters to begin an arc above the station.

1443 GMT (10:43 a.m. EDT)

The on-time undocking occurred in orbital darkness as the station and shuttle flew more than 210 miles northeast of Australia.

1442 GMT (10:42 a.m. EDT)

UNDOCKING! After nearly nine days of combined operations high above Earth, shuttle Atlantis is departing the space station for return to Earth. The shuttle continued construction of the orbiting complex by delivering the Starboard 3/Starboard 4 truss structure and activating two power-generating solar arrays, retracting and stowing the P6-2B array for that truss' upcoming relocation and exchanging space station residents will arrival of Clay Anderson to replace the homeward-bound Suni Williams.

The shuttle crew will be getting a great look at the their work over the next hour-and-a-half. Atlantis is set to make a full lap around the outpost so that the astronauts to thoroughly photograph the new configuration of the station.

1437 GMT (10:37 a.m. EDT)

Five minutes from undocking. The steering jets on Atlantis are inhibited for the period of physical undocking from the station. The separation occurs when large springs push the two craft apart. Once the shuttle is a couple feet away from the station and the docking devices are clear of one another, pilot Lee Archambault will fire Atlantis' thrusters to continue the movement away.

1424 GMT (10:24 a.m. EDT)

Mission Control has given the "go" for undocking of Atlantis from the space station at 10:42 a.m. EDT.

1330 GMT (9:30 a.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts are preparing to undock from the international space station this morning after a dramatic visit highlighted by installation of a new set of solar arrays and recovery from major computer problems on the lab complex.

Read our full story.

MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007

Shuttle set to undock; Russian computers tested
The Atlantis astronauts said goodbye to the international space station's crew late Monday, floating out of the Destiny laboratory module one by one before sealing hatches and gearing up for undocking Tuesday morning.

Read our full story.

1505 GMT (11:05 a.m. EDT)

Suni Williams bids tearful farewell to space station
In her final daily planning conference with space station controllers in the United States and Russia, astronaut Sunita Williams, now the world's most experienced female space flier, bid a tearful farewell to her Russian crewmates, her American replacement - Clay Anderson - and the laboratory she's called home since last December.

Read our full story.

SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2007

Astronauts Pat Forrester and Steve Swanson wrapped up a six-hour 29-minute spacewalk today, completing the critical activation of a solar array rotation system and a variety of space station assembly get-ahead tasks.

Read our full story.

2256 GMT (6:56 p.m. EDT)

EVA ENDS. Repressurization of the Quest airlock module began at 6:54 p.m. EDT, marking the official conclusion of this fourth and final spacewalk during Atlantis' construction mission to the space station.

Today's EVA lasted six hours and 29 minutes, bringing the total spacewalk time for STS-117 to 27 hours and 58 minutes.

2250 GMT (6:50 p.m. EDT)

The hatch is closed.

2245 GMT (6:45 p.m. EDT)

Both astronauts are back in the airlock.

2240 GMT (6:40 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are doing tool inventories and getting ready to wrap up this fourth and final EVA of Atlantis' mission.

2226 GMT (6:26 p.m. EDT)

The hydrogen vent valve installed on Destiny lab module during Friday's spacewalk has been opened by astronaut Pat Forrester.

2205 GMT (6:05 p.m. EDT)

The cable routing work has been completed. However, the spacewalkers have experienced some trouble getting the space debris shielding panel back in place on the station. Mission Control has offered an alternate plan of tethering the panel so that the crew can move on with the hydrogen vent valve opening task.

2116 GMT (5:16 p.m. EDT)

Forrester has opened a panel of exterior shielding on the U.S. segment of the station to gain access where the computer network cable will be hooked up. Swanson is running the cable from the Russian segment of the station.

2050 GMT (4:50 p.m. EDT)

Forrester is installing a foot restraint and tool stanchion on the station's Z1 truss while Swanson begins connecting the computer network cable.

2025 GMT (4:25 p.m. EDT)

Four hours and counting into the EVA. Forrester and Swanson have finished work on the S3/S4 truss delivered to the station by Atlantis. The spacewalkers have traveled back to the airlock to retrieve the tools and equipment for get-ahead tasks, including installation of a computer cable on the station exterior between the U.S. and Russian segments.

2000 GMT (4:00 p.m. EDT)

Final clearing of the robot arm mobile transporter pathway on the new solar array truss is being completed by the spacewalkers.

1937 GMT (3:37 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are putting in place some portable foot platforms needed by the astronauts during the next shuttle flight in August that will install the Starboard 5 truss.

1917 GMT (3:17 p.m. EDT)

The keel pin has been moved out of the way, clearing the rail tracks on the new truss for future use by the station's robot arm transporter car.

1841 GMT (2:41 p.m. EDT)

All of the launch restraints on the SARJ have been released. The spacewalkers are preparing to remove and stow the drag link and keel pin on the truss that had been used to secure the payload aboard Atlantis for launch.

1825 GMT (2:25 p.m. EDT)

Two hours into this planned six-and-a-half hour EVA.

1753 GMT (1:53 p.m. EDT)

Pat Forrester is working on the Drive Lock Assembly that controls the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint while Steve Swanson has removed the first three of six launch restraints on the SARJ. The joint is a large wheel that allows the solar arrays to track the sun.

1718 GMT (1:18 p.m. EDT)

The camera stanchion has been attached to the S3 truss. Attention will be turning to work on the solar array rotary joint.

1700 GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers have made their way out to the Starboard 3 truss of the space station. The first task of the EVA is installing a holding unit for a television camera.

1626 GMT (12:26 p.m. EDT)

EVA BEGINS. Pat Forrester and Steve Swanson switched their spacesuits to internal battery power at 12:25 p.m. EDT, marking the official start time for today's spacewalk. This fourth and final EVA of Atlantis' mission will complete the assembly tasks associated with activation of the new solar array truss delivered by the shuttle.

1556 GMT (11:56 a.m. EDT)

Depressurization of the airlock has commenced in preparation for the start of today's spacewalk.

1400 GMT (10:00 a.m. EDT)

Flight controllers have re-activated most of the major systems in the Russian segment of the international space station, keeping four of six revived primary computers on line and two on standby for use as needed.

"Things are looking very good," Flight Director Holly Ridings said early today. "In real generic terms, everything's back on except for our Elektron (oxygen generator) and they just wanted to wait and watch the computers for another day or two and make sure everything was good before they brought it back up. But that's almost nominal in terms of all the systems."

The shuttle astronauts today are gearing up for a fourth and final spacewalk to complete the activation of a powerful rotary joint on the right side of the station's main solar power truss that was installed last week along with the new S4 solar arrays. The solar alpha rotary joint, or SARJ, is designed to slowly turn outboard arrays like a huge paddlewheel to keep the solar blankets face-on to the sun. An identical joint on the left side of the main truss turns the port-side P4 arrays.

Read our full story.

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2007

Hoping for the best, station commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineer Oleg Kotov hot wired two computers aboard the international space station today that engineers had feared were victims of fatal power supply failures. To everyone's delight, the machines promptly booted up and appeared to be running normally, two more successes in an improbable recovery from crippling computer crashes last week.

Read our full story.

1800 GMT (2:00 p.m. EDT)

Russian flight controllers successfully switched a command-and-control computer over to operational status early today and began the process of re-activating critical systems aboard the international space station after electronic bypass surgery Friday to isolate suspect power supply switches.

"In the last 24 hours, we've had a lot of successes," Flight Director Holly Ridings said this morning.

Early today, outgoing space station astronaut Sunita Williams, launched to the lab complex aboard shuttle Discovery last December, passed the 188-day four-hour mark, setting a new space endurance record for female astronauts. The old record was set by Shannon Lucid during a stay aboard the old Russian Mir space station.

Read our full story.

0400 GMT (12:00 a.m. EDT)

Enjoying an unexpected reversal of fortune, Russian cosmonauts carried out electronic bypass surgery Friday to resuscitate the station's befuddled electronic brains. The spacewalkers then fluffed and pampered a huge set of solar blankets, coaxing them back into compact storage boxes and avoiding a host of feared problems.

Read our full story.

0125 GMT (9:25 p.m. EDT)

EVA ENDS. Repressurization of the Quest airlock module began at 9:22 p.m. EDT, marking the official conclusion of this third spacewalk during Atlantis' construction mission to the space station.

Today's EVA lasted seven hours and 58 minutes, bringing the total spacewalk time for STS-117 to 21 hours and 29 minutes.

0118 GMT (9:18 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are back in the airlock and closing the hatch as this successful EVA nears an end.

0100 GMT (9:00 p.m. EDT)

Success has been declared with the Port 6 solar array truss. The solar blankets were fully coaxed back into the boxes this evening, setting the stage for the truss to be relocated outboard on the station backbone structure later this year.

0005 GMT (8:05 p.m. EDT)

Folding of the array is just about complete.

2355 GMT (7:55 p.m. EDT)

Good progress is being made in the array retraction with the help of the spacewalkers.

2303 GMT (7:03 p.m. EDT)

Four solar array retraction attempts have been performed, folding up 3.5 bays or sections of the wing.

2253 GMT (6:53 p.m. EDT)

Jim Reilly is positioned on the robot arm and using a tool to fluff the array blanket folds. The first retraction attempt of the day occurs soon.

2224 GMT (6:24 p.m. EDT)

Now five hours into the EVA, the spacewalkers are in position for the array activities.

2158 GMT (5:58 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are gathering the tools and equipment needed for the P6 solar array retraction efforts.

2145 GMT (5:45 p.m. EDT)

In a possible breakthrough, space station commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineer Oleg Kotov used a jumper cable to bypass a suspect secondary power supply switch today and successfully activated four of six navigation and command computers that appeared to malfunction earlier this week, NASA officials said.

Read our full story.

2126 GMT (5:26 p.m. EDT)

Now four hours into the EVA.

2055 GMT (4:55 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are working together up at the Destiny lab module now. They are securing a troublesome exterior panel that Reilly needed help with. They'll be proceeding to the P6 solar array retraction shortly.

2023 GMT (4:23 p.m. EDT)

Olivas has inserted 21 stainless steel pins to secure the blanket in space. He'll be taking some upclose photos before calling this job complete.

2014 GMT (4:14 p.m. EDT)

Initial reports from Mission Control indicate two of the three "lanes" in the central and terminal computer systems have activated.

2000 GMT (4:00 p.m. EDT)

Another shot at restarting the Russian computers is underway.

1955 GMT (3:55 p.m. EDT)

Astronaut Danny Olivas, anchored to the end of the shuttle Atlantis' robot arm, carried out orbital surgery on the ship's heat shield today, using a medical stapler and stainless steel pins in a bid to secure a peeled-back insulation blanket on one of the orbiter's aft rocket pods.

Read our full story.

1930 GMT (3:30 p.m. EDT)

Olivas is using steel thread to pin the blanket in an adjacent row of heat-shield tiles on the Orbital Maneuvering System engine pod. He installed two rows of staples to the blanket after tucking it back in place.

1915 GMT (3:15 p.m. EDT)

Reilly reports he has installed the new hydrogen vent. And Mission Control has asked that he add a job to his to-do list -- disconnect a cable installed during the spacewalk a couple of days ago as part of the Russian computer troubleshooting.

1911 GMT (3:11 p.m. EDT)

Olivas put in a whole row of staples.

1908 GMT (3:08 p.m. EDT)

Meanwhile up on the space station, Jim Reilly has completed removal of the old water vent from the hull of the Destiny science lab module in preparation for installing a new hydrogen vent.

1905 GMT (3:05 p.m. EDT)

A half dozen staples have been put into the blankets.

1901 GMT (3:01 p.m. EDT)

Now Olivas is using a small stapler to fasten the tucked blanket back in place.

1854 GMT (2:54 p.m. EDT)

Using just his gloved fingers, spacewalker Danny Olivas simply folded the protruding thermal blanket back in place and tapped it down.

1842 GMT (2:42 p.m. EDT)

Reilly is removing a water vent on the exterior of the Destiny module. It will be replaced with a hydrogen vent.

1837 GMT (2:37 p.m. EDT)

Olivas' helmet camera is capturing images of the turned up thermal blanket on Atlantis' OMS pod. Olivas will also take pictures of the area with a digital still camera.

1832 GMT (2:32 p.m. EDT)

While Olivas moves into position for the thermal blanket repair, Reilly is working on the outside of the space station's Destiny module to install a hydrogen vent for a new oxygen generator.

1825 GMT (2:25 p.m. EDT)

Olivas is being maneuvered at the end of the shuttle's robot arm to the repair site near the tail of the shuttle.

1814 GMT (2:14 p.m. EDT)

Olivas is climbing into a foot restraint mounted to the end of the shuttle's robot arm that will be used to postion him for repairs to a lose blanket on the shuttle's OMS pod.

1745 GMT (1:45 p.m. EDT)

Reilly and Olivas are outside the airlock and setting up their gear for the spacewalk.

1733 GMT (1:33 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers have been given a "go" to leave the airlock.

1724 GMT (1:24 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalk is officially underway as astronauts Reilly and Olivas switch their spacesuits to battery power in the airlock.

1720 GMT (1:20 p.m. EDT)

Suffredini says the next Progress cargo carrier launch could be moved up from August 8 to July 23 if spare parts are needed to repair the Russian computers.

1716 GMT (1:16 p.m. EDT)

Space station officials are already discussing backup plans for controlling the attitude of the complex once the shuttle leaves if the Russian computers cannot be reactivated in time. Most of the life support systems normally controlled by the computers could run independently, Suffredini says.

1712 GMT (1:12 p.m. EDT)

Space station manager Mike Suffredini says the quality of the electrical power feeding the Russian service module does not appear to be responsible for the computer problems plaguing the outpost. Russian flight controllers now believe the secondary power supply on at least one if not two of the computers has failed.

1708 GMT (1:08 p.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts have a busy day in orbit highlighted by an afternoon spacewalk to complete the retraction of the P6-2B solar array and the impromptu repair of a pulled up insulation blanket on the shuttle's left-side maneuvering rocket pod.

Read our preview story.

1707 GMT (1:07 p.m. EDT)

A mission status briefing is getting underway at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

1239 GMT (8:39 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' astronauts are being awakened to begin Flight Day 8. The third spacewalk of the mission begins shortly after 1:30 p.m. this afternoon to repair the thermal blanket on the shuttle maneuvering engine pod and perform other work outside the space station.

1125 GMT (7:25 a.m. EDT)

Russian computers aboard the international space station failed to boot up properly early today even though they were cut off from U.S. solar array power. Engineers had speculated that some subtle change in the station's shared power grid, caused by the installation this week of a new solar array, might have triggered the Russian computer crashes that have crippled the space station.

Read our story.

1000 GMT (6:00 a.m. EDT)

Russian guidance and control computers aboard the international space station were disconnected from U.S. solar array power and ordered to restart early today during a pass above Russian ground stations. Engineers reported mixed initial results, with no "eureka moment" as troubleshooting continues.

Read our story.

THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2007

Russian engineers troubleshooting computer problems aboard the international space station coaxed three of six critical guidance and control computers back into operation today after a crippling shutdown Wednesday. A few hours later, apparently still experiencing problems, the two operating command-and-control computers, along with a lone guidance computer, were shut back down to give engineers time to assess telemetry.

Read our story.

1245 GMT (8:45 a.m. EDT)

Engineers have re-established communications with at least one part of the space station's Russian guidance and command-and-control computers. They are receiving a full stream of telemetry and have been able to restore power to critical systems.

Read our story.

1210 GMT (8:10 a.m. EDT)

Russian engineers cut off U.S. power and attempted to restart critical computers in the Zvezda command module of the international space station today using power from Russian systems. While the system showed a "heartbeat," flight controllers said, they were unable to coax the machines into rebooting during a pass over Russian ground stations.

Read our story.

0630 GMT (2:30 a.m. EDT)

A major computer failure in the Russian segment of the international space station, possibly triggered by the addition of new U.S. solar arrays earlier this week, has shut down critical systems and left the outpost dependent on the shuttle Atlantis for any major changes in orientation. The station cannot safely operate without the Russian computers and the problem must be resolved before Atlantis departs next week.

Read our story.

0200 GMT (10:00 p.m. EDT Wed.)

Astronauts Pat Forrester and Steve Swanson wrapped up a grueling seven-hour and 16-minute spacewalk today after partially retracting a solar array blanket and setting up a powerful rotary joint needed to turn another set of arrays to follow the sun. When the spacewalk ended, Forrester was getting alarms for high carbon dioxide levels in his suit but NASA officials said he was never in any danger.

Read our story.

0145 GMT (9:45 p.m. EDT Wed.)

EVA ENDS. Repressurization of the Quest airlock module began at 9:44 p.m. EDT, marking the official conclusion of this second spacewalk during Atlantis' construction mission to the space station.

Today's EVA lasted seven hours and 16 minutes, bringing the total spacewalk time for STS-117 to 13 hours and 31 minutes.

0138 GMT (9:38 p.m. EDT Wed.)

The spacewalkers are back in the airlock.

0110 GMT (9:10 p.m. EDT Wed.)

Worksite cleanup and tool inventories is underway by the spacewalkers before they head back to the airlock to end this EVA.

0052 GMT (8:52 p.m. EDT Wed.)

The spacewalkers completed the drive lock assembly tasks for the night and Pat Forrester is releasing the last Solar Alpha Rotary Joint launch lock now. Steve Swanson is releasing the torque on other launch restraints on the SARJ.

0015 GMT (8:15 p.m. EDT Wed.)

Approaching the six-hour mark in the spacewalk. A mis-configured wiring problem has been uncovered with two of the drive lock assemblies on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint. Commands for one DLA went to a different unit. The astronauts have been assisting flight controllers investigate the situation. The crew was told to hold off finishing the launch restraint removals.

2345 GMT (7:45 p.m. EDT)

Three critical computers in the Russian section of the international space station that help control the lab's orientation remain out of action today following problems Tuesday. Among other things, the station uses the computers to fire Russian rocket thrusters to adjust the station's attitude when U.S. gyroscopes are insufficient.

Read our story.

2258 GMT (6:58 p.m. EDT)

Now four-and-a-half hours into today's spacewalk. The EVA tasks are continuing but it hasn't been exactly smooth sailing. The spacewalkers have been running into some difficulties with bolts and torques.

2250 GMT (6:50 p.m. EDT)

The first batch of launch footage from the solid rocket booster cameras is available to Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers here.

2200 GMT (6:00 p.m. EDT)

Work to install the four bracing beams has been completed. Attention for Forrester now turns to installation of drive lock assemblies on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint. Swanson will be focused on releasing a series of launch locks on the joint.

2140 GMT (5:40 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are working to install brace beams on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint of new Starboard 3 truss. The beams are designed to rigidize the structure.

2120 GMT (5:20 p.m. EDT)

After crewmates robotically retracted the P6-2B solar array some 28 feet, spacewalkers Steve Swanson and Pat Forrester, anchored to the end of the space station's robot arm, used insulated tools and a gentle touch to free bunched-up blanket slats so the panel could be pulled in an additional 17 feet or so.

Given problems retracting the other side of the array last December, flight controllers were elated with the result of today's work. While more time will be needed to complete the job Thursday and Friday, if necessary, it was clear the step-by-step approach based on lessons learned from the December mission had paid off.

Read our story.

2100 GMT (5:00 p.m. EDT)

The crew reports 18.5 sections, or bays, of the 31 bays remain the P6 array to retract later in the mission. Meanwhile, the spacewalkers have returned to the airlock area to swap out tools and get the equipment needed for the other jobs on this EVA.

2021 GMT (4:21 p.m. EDT)

After a couple more one-section retract commands, the spacewalkers are gonna give the wing some final touches and then press on with the other tasks of the EVA. The next retraction attempts will be made tomorrow.

2007 GMT (4:07 p.m. EDT)

The crew has completed a few additional retraction commands. The spacewalkers are continuing to give assists to clear problem areas on the wing to help as the wing is pulled in.

1930 GMT (3:30 p.m. EDT)

Perched on the end of the space station's robot arm, Pat Forrester is being maneuvered around to use special tools to fix folds and wires on the P6 solar array for upcoming retraction efforts.

1900 GMT (3:00 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are getting into position to help with the P6 truss solar array retraction by smoothing out blanket folds and assist guide wires.

Some 7.5 sections, or bays, of the array's 30.5 bays were retracted successfully earlier today. Further remote-control retraction efforts were halted until the spacewalkers could get outside to lend a hand.

1842 GMT (2:42 p.m. EDT)

This is the 85th spacewalk devoted to station construction and maintenance since assembly began in 1998 and the second of four planned by the Atlantis astronauts. Going into today's EVA, 47 NASA astronauts, 15 Russians, two Canadians and four fliers from Japan, Germany, France and Sweden had logged 515 hours and 20 minutes of spacewalk time building the international outpost.

1828 GMT (2:28 p.m. EDT)

EVA BEGINS. Pat Forrester and Steve Swanson switched their spacesuits to internal battery power at 2:28 p.m. EDT, marking the official start time for today's spacewalk.

1827 GMT (2:27 p.m. EDT)

The airlock's outer hatch has been opened.

1820 GMT (2:20 p.m. EDT)

The EVA should get underway shortly.

1757 GMT (1:57 p.m. EDT)

The crew has been experiencing a lot of problems with ratty communications while trying to ready for the spacewalk. But airlock depressurization has begun.

1735 GMT (1:35 p.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts, working step-by-step with flight controllers, successfully retracted the 115-foot P6-2B solar array 7.5 45-inch mast bays today, or about 28 feet, before standing down for the start of a planned spacewalk by astronauts Pat Forrester and Steve Swanson.

Space station commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineer Oleg Kotov, meanwhile, worked with engineers in Russian to recover from yet another computer crash in the Russian segment of the outpost. Computer glitches Tuesday caused major problems, preventing the station from switching back to gyroscope control of its orientation as planned.

Read our story.

1656 GMT (12:56 p.m. EDT)

The crew will hold off on further array work until after the spacewalkers get out of the door. The initial part of the EVA is set aside for hands-on work to help the arrays fold properly.

1646 GMT (12:46 p.m. EDT)

Array retraction has been going fairly well. Seven sections have folded up so far.

Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing inside the station for today's spacewalk.

1550 GMT (11:50 a.m. EDT)

Flight controllers began the retraction of the P6-2B solar array on the international space station, pausing after pulling the central mast in one 45-inch bay. The astronauts aboard shuttle Atlantis and the international space station trained cameras on the fragile solar array to help controllers in Houston determine whether any of the folding slats making up the two solar blankets would fold properly or whether then might bend backward as retraction continued.

Read our story.

1506 GMT (11:06 a.m. EDT)

The crew has completed retracting three sections of the wing. Early this morning, the ground commanded a half-section retract.

1450 GMT (10:50 a.m. EDT)

After a brief retraction attempt, the flight controllers have decided to wiggle the solar wing to help the panels fold up better.

1442 GMT (10:42 a.m. EDT)

Attempts to retract the P6 solar array have begun as scheduled.

1320 GMT (9:20 a.m. EDT)

Astronauts Patrick Forrester and Steve Swanson are gearing up this morning for a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk to finish rigging a massive rotary joint that will slowly turn a newly installed set of solar arrays to keep them face on to the sun. They also will assist, if necessary, the retraction of the P6-2B solar array extending at right angles to the long axis of the station and the newly installed S4 arrays.

Read our full story.

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2007

A Russian navigation computer aboard the international space station hung up today, triggering a chain reaction of computer miscues in the midst of work to unfurl two huge new solar blankets.

Read our full story.

2200 GMT (6:00 p.m. EDT)

Fire alarms tripped inside the Russian section of the international space station today, triggering emergency procedures and concern on the ground until the astronauts reported it was an apparent false alarm.

Read our full story.

2135 GMT (5:35 p.m. EDT)

The station crew and ground controllers are recovering from an alarm that sounded a short time ago indicating a fire in the Zarya module. The crew reports a software problem caused the false alarm.

1830 GMT (2:30 p.m. EDT)

Two new solar array wings attached to the international space station Monday were slowly unfurled today, pulled from their storage boxes by self-assembling masts. Carried out in stages, the 15-foot-wide wings extended like giant window blinds, stretching some 240 feet from tip to tip.

Read our full story.

1800 GMT (2:00 p.m. EDT)

The international space station's new solar arrays have been successfully deployed. The wings stretch some 240 feet from tip to tip.

1758 GMT (1:58 p.m. EDT)

The crew reports a successful deploy to full extension.

1752 GMT (1:52 p.m. EDT)

The deployment has resumed after the half-hour warming.

1721 GMT (1:21 p.m. EDT)

A good extension to 49 percent has occurred. The deploy sequence will be stopped at this point for 30 minutes to let the solar array warm up before extending the rest of the way.

1716 GMT (1:16 p.m. EDT)

Now the aft solar wing of the space station's new power truss is beginning to extend outward to the 49 percent mark.

1631 GMT (12:31 p.m. EDT)

Extension of the aft solar array is expected to begin in about 45 minutes.

1629 GMT (12:29 p.m. EDT)

The first of two giant solar wings has been deployed from the space station's new Starboard 4 truss. The array has unfurled its full length of 115 feet.

1623 GMT (12:23 p.m. EDT)

Unfurling of the solar array is underway again, headed for full extension.

1554 GMT (11:54 a.m. EDT)

The 1A power-generating solar array on the S4 truss has been extended to the 49 percent mark. The deployment has paused at this point for a half-hour to let the panels warm up before proceeding to a full 100 percent.

1546 GMT (11:46 a.m. EDT)

Deployment of the first solar array has begun.

1415 GMT (10:15 a.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts were awakened at 9:08 a.m. by a recording of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" beamed up from mission control. The crew plans to monitor the deployment of a new set of solar arrays they attached to the international space station Monday before enjoying a few hours of off-duty time later today.

Read our full story.

0300 GMT (11:00 p.m. EDT Mon.)

Jim Reilly and Danny Olivas successfully completed a six-hour, 15-minute excursion outside the shuttle/station complex today, wiring up and unfolding pieces of the S3/S4 truss structure that had been attached earlier in the afternoon by the robot arm.

The work went well with only minor glitches. All of the planned tasks were accomplished.

The spacewalk was the 84th dedicated to station assembly and maintenance. The cumulative space station EVA time now stands at 515 hours and 20 minutes.

Initial deployment of the two solar wings will begin overnight while the astronauts are asleep. Mission Control will command each array blanket box to open slightly, allowing the stowed panels to decompress. Full extension of the arrays is scheduled for mid-day Tuesday.

0218 GMT (10:18 p.m. EDT Mon.)

EVA ENDS. Repressurization of the Quest airlock module began at 10:17 p.m. EDT, marking the official conclusion of this first spacewalk during Atlantis' construction mission to the space station. Today's EVA lasted six hours and 15 minutes.

0145 GMT (9:45 p.m. EDT Mon.)

The spacewalkers are heading back into the airlock as this EVA winds down.

0125 GMT (9:25 p.m. EDT Mon.)

NASA's Mission Management Team decided today to extend the shuttle Atlantis' mission by two days and to add a fourth spacewalk Sunday. That will give the astronauts enough time to complete their space station assembly tasks and fix a pulled-up insulation blanket on one of the ship's aft rocket pods. Flight controllers plan to make a decision Tuesday on whether to add the blanket repair to the third or fourth spacewalk.

Read our story from tonight's news conference.

0115 GMT (9:15 p.m. EDT Mon.)

Once the spacewalkers wrap up this work on the SARJ launch locks, they will start making their way back to the airlock to conclude the EVA.

0048 GMT (8:48 p.m. EDT Mon.)

The heat-dissipating radiator from the station's new power truss has been unfurled successfully.

0032 GMT (8:32 p.m. EDT Mon.)

Now four-and-a-half hours into the EVA. Launch lock removal continues on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint. Deployment of the radiator is coming up shortly.

0016 GMT (8:16 p.m. EDT Mon.)

Shannon says a decision will be made tomorrow whether the OMS pod repair will be performed during the mission's third or an added fourth spacewalk. The protruding thermal blanket on the Orbital Maneuvering System engine pod has been a topic of discussion since shortly after Atlantis arrived in orbit. Manually pushing down the blanket corner that is sticking up and securing it should fix the problem.

0011 GMT (8:11 p.m. EDT Mon.)

Mission Management Team chairman John Shannon has formally announced that Atlantis' flight will be extended two days, allowing a fourth spacewalk to be added.

The on-time launch of Atlantis means the shuttle has enough cryogenic consumables to enable the extension without problem.

Landing at Kennedy Space Center is now targeted for the early afternoon of Thursday, June 21. The mission duration will be nearly 13 days.

2359 GMT (7:59 p.m. EDT)

Work has been continuing on the drive lock assemblies. The "stiffeners" bars were engaged. Removal of launch locks from the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint is on tap next.

2342 GMT (7:42 p.m. EDT)

Mission Control just told the crew the spacewalkers are now about an hour ahead of the work timeline. Some additional work could be added to the EVA. The ground is planning deployment of the radiator on the truss at about 8:30 p.m.

2323 GMT (7:23 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are about 40 minutes ahead of their timeline.

2316 GMT (7:16 p.m. EDT)

Reilly is working to install one of the drive lock assemblies that control the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint on the interface between the S3 and S4 truss segments. And Olivas will be engaging "stiffeners" needed to provide additional structural support.

2300 GMT (7:00 p.m. EDT)

Spacewalkers are now removing some additional thermal shrouds that have covered truss electronics.

2250 GMT (6:50 p.m. EDT)

Both sets of blanket boxes have been deployed. The stage is now set for unfurling the arrays tomorrow.

2245 GMT (6:45 p.m. EDT)

Reilly will be unstowing the two solar array blanket boxes on the forward wing assembly and Olivas does the aft wing.

2236 GMT (6:36 p.m. EDT)

Olivas has finished releasing the radiator restraints. Both spacewalkers will be working to unfold the solar array blanket boxes from their stowed configurations.

2233 GMT (6:33 p.m. EDT)

Reilly has finished releasing locks on the forward Beta Gimbal Assembly. He then pushed it out of the stowed position. The blanket boxes on both wing assembles will be swung outward later in the EVA in preparation for tomorrow's unfurling of the giant arrays.

2220 GMT (6:20 p.m. EDT)

The structure containing the aft solar array wing -- called the Beta Gimbal Assembly -- is being pushed out of its launch position by spacewalker Jim Reilly now. Meanwhile, Danny Olivas is releasing restraints on the truss raditor for its upcoming deployment.

2202 GMT (6:02 p.m. EDT)

Now two hours into today's spacewalk. Coming up, the astronauts will be deploying from the end of the S3/S4 truss the structures containing the solar arrays.

2155 GMT (5:55 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are running about 15 minutes ahead of their timeline, Mission Control says.

2149 GMT (5:49 p.m. EDT)

The umbilical cables on the upper side of the truss have been mated with the station by Reilly.

2135 GMT (5:35 p.m. EDT)

Reilly has rotated out of the way the truss keel pin, used to hold the structure in the shuttle payload bay for launch. Olivas continues working on the blanket boxes.

2108 GMT (5:08 p.m. EDT)

Olivas has removed the launch locks on the first of the two solar array blanket boxes. Reilly is removing a thermal cover from a computer on the new truss.

2053 GMT (4:53 p.m. EDT)

Reilly has completed connecting power cables on the lower utility tray between the station and the new truss. Additional cables on the upper tray will be routed later.

2040 GMT (4:40 p.m. EDT)

Read our update story on the truss installation and the start of today's spacewalk.

2020 GMT (4:20 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are en route to their respective worksites for the first tasks of this spacewalk. Reilly will begin connecting cables to the new truss while Olivas removes launch restraints on the solar array blanket boxes.

2003 GMT (4:03 p.m. EDT)

EVA BEGINS. Jim Reilly and Danny Olivas switched their spacesuits to internal battery power at 4:02 p.m. EDT, marking the official start time for today's spacewalk.

2002 GMT (4:02 p.m. EDT)

The outer hatch of the airlock was just opened.

1951 GMT (3:51 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are checking their safety tethers are in place.

1947 GMT (3:47 p.m. EDT)

Pressure in the airlock is now below 5 psi. Both spacesuits have passed a leak check.

1940 GMT (3:40 p.m. EDT)

Air pressure in the Quest airlock is now at 8 pounds per square inch (psi).

1938 GMT (3:38 p.m. EDT)

The fourth and final bolt attaching the new S3/S4 truss to the station's backbone has been tightened.

1936 GMT (3:36 p.m. EDT)

The pressure is now dropping inside the space station's Quest airlock. Jim Reilly will serve as EV1 and Danny Olivas as EV2 for todays spacewalk. Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers can watch a preview of the spacewalk.

1934 GMT (3:34 p.m. EDT)

Mission Control has given a go for the start of airlock depress in readiness for today's spacewalk.

1921 GMT (3:21 p.m. EDT)

The robot arm is letting go of the new truss, now that the structure has been attached to the station.

1911 GMT (3:11 p.m. EDT)

The third of four electrically driven bolts was tightened to connect the S3/S4 truss to the space station. That completes the minimum required mating of the truss and gives the OK for the crew to press forward with today's planned spacewalk.

1845 GMT (2:45 p.m. EDT)

Activities are running about an hour behind schedule because of the situation experienced earlier with the station control system. Bolting of the new S3/S4 truss is underway now. The spacewalk won't begin until the installation is completed.

1827 GMT (2:27 p.m. EDT)

The initial stages of the connection process have been accomplished. Four bolts will be driven to physically mate the truss to the station and the robot arm will release its grip.

1807 GMT (2:07 p.m. EDT)

With the truss in the ready-to-latch position, the spacewalkers have been given a "go" to don their helmets. Once the truss has been connected to the station, the EVA will get underway.

1757 GMT (1:57 p.m. EDT)

The new truss is about 30 centimeters away from its attachment point.

1745 GMT (1:45 p.m. EDT)

The crew has been given approval to release the brakes on the robot arm and press ahead with truss installation. The robotics operations had been halted early this afternoon while the station's orientation control gyroscope system was brought back online from momentum over-saturation.

1550 GMT (11:50 a.m. EDT)

Right now the space station's robot arm is maneuvering the S3/S4 truss structure to the pre-install position. Meanwhile, spacewalk preparations are well underway inside the station.

1350 GMT (9:50 a.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts are gearing up to attach a 36,000-pound solar array truss segment to the international space station today. Once the stowed arrays are in place, astronauts Jim Reilly and Danny Olivas plan to stage a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk to make critical electrical connections and remove a variety of launch locks and restraints to prepare the new solar blankets for extension Tuesday.

Read our full story.

0045 GMT (8:45 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Concern about possible re-entry heat damage to the underlying structure of the shuttle Atlantis' left-side maneuvering rocket pod under a pulled-up insulation blanket may prompt a simple spacewalk repair job, the chairman of NASA's Mission Management Team said today.

Read our full story.

0033 GMT (8:33 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The primary payload of space shuttle Atlantis -- the Starboard 3/Starboard 4 solar array truss element -- has been handed off to the space station.

The shuttle's robot arm had unberthed the truss this evening, allowing the station's arm to grapple the payload at 8:19 p.m. EDT. The shuttle arm released its grip at 8:28 p.m., leaving the truss in the station's hands.

The truss will be attached to the station backbone on Monday.

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2007
2343 GMT (7:43 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis' robot arm has put the S3/S4 truss into the proper position off the side of the shuttle for the station's arm to come in and take the truss.

2308 GMT (7:08 p.m. EDT)

The truss has been raised to the so-called high hover position over the payload bay by the shuttle's arm.

2121 GMT (5:21 p.m. EDT)

HATCHES OPEN. The hatchway between Atlantis and the space station has been opened, and the shuttle crew is being welcomed aboard the outpost with the ringing of the station's bell.

Over the next couple of hours, astronaut Clay Anderson will begin moving his things aboard the station and become an official member of Expedition 15. Station resident Suni Williams will in turn become a shuttle astronaut for the trip back to Earth.

Also upcoming is the unberthing of the S3/S4 truss from Atlantis' payload bay by the shuttle robot arm. The truss will be handed to the station's arm to stay overnight. Installation of truss occurs tomorrow morning.

2058 GMT (4:58 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis' arm has a grasp on the S3/S4 solar array truss structure. Latches holding the truss in the payload bay will be released, allowing the arm to raise the 36,000-pound station piece out of the shuttle for handoff to the station's robotic arm.

2035 GMT (4:35 p.m. EDT)

Hatch opening and the welcome ceremony are coming up shortly. Meanwhile, members of the shuttle crew are preparing to use Atlantis' robot arm to grapple the truss in the payload bay.

2010 GMT (4:10 p.m. EDT)

Commander Rick Sturckow guided the shuttle Atlantis to a picture-perfect docking with the international space station today after a dramatic end-over-end flip across the heart of South America to let the station crew photograph the shuttle's fragile heat shield.

Read our full story.

1947 GMT (3:47 p.m. EDT)

The docking ring between the two craft has been retracted into Atlantis' Orbiter Docking System, pulling the station to a tight mating. The hooks and latches are driving shut to firmly connect the two spacecraft.

Pressure and leak checks will be performed by the crews before the hatchway is opened.

1936 GMT (3:36 p.m. EDT)

CONTACT AND CAPTURE! Atlantis has arrived at the space station to install the Starboard 3/Starboard 4 truss segment and unfurl two giant solar wings to increase the amount of power available to the orbiting outpost.

The relative motions of the shuttle and station will be allowed to damp out over the next few minutes by the spring-loaded docking system. Later, the hooks and latches will be closed to firmly join the two craft and Atlantis' Orbiter Docking System docking ring will be retracted to form a tight seal.

The opening of hatches between the station and shuttle is expected in about 90 minutes. That will be followed by a welcoming ceremony and safety briefing. Then the joint crews will get down to business and use the shuttle robot arm to hoist the truss out of Atlantis' payload bay for handoff to the station's arm.

1935 GMT (3:35 p.m. EDT)

Five feet from docking.

1934 GMT (3:34 p.m. EDT)

Now 15 feet separating the shuttle from the station. Atlantis' thrusters are programmed to fire in a post-contact maneuver to force the two docking ports together. That procedure is now armed and ready.

1933 GMT (3:33 p.m. EDT)

The distance is now 20 feet. Atlantis is closing at a tenth of a foot per second.

1930 GMT (3:30 p.m. EDT)

Final approach beginning. The alignment between docking ports on Atlantis and the space station is acceptable and no "fly out" maneuver by the shuttle is necessary.

1930 GMT (3:30 p.m. EDT)

About 40 feet separating the two spacecraft.

1926 GMT (3:26 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis is 75 feet from the docking port.

1923 GMT (3:23 p.m. EDT)

About 100 feet left to go.

1920 GMT (3:20 p.m. EDT)

All continues to go well in today's rendezvous.

1915 GMT (3:15 p.m. EDT)

Now about 200 feet from docking. Atlantis is closing at about two-tenths of a foot per second.

1903 GMT (3:03 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis' crew has been given a "go" to proceed inside 170 feet and the "go" for docking.

1900 GMT (3:00 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis has reached the point directly in front of the station along the imaginary line called the velocity vector, or +V bar. The shuttle is about 360 feet from the station.

1853 GMT (2:53 p.m. EDT)

Mission Control says Atlantis is continuing on a good trajectory as it moves out in front of the station.

1848 GMT (2:48 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis is beginning the arc from the point beneath the station to a point roughly 400 feet in front of the complex to align with the docking port on the Destiny module. Docking is 50 minutes away.

1843 GMT (2:43 p.m. EDT)

The pitch maneuver has been completed. Atlantis is back in the orientation where it started, with the payload bay looking up at the station.

1841 GMT (2:41 p.m. EDT)

The main engine nozzles of Atlantis are facing the station now as the shuttle points its tail upward.

1840 GMT (2:40 p.m. EDT)

This 360-degree, nose-first pirouette by Atlantis gives the station crew about 100 seconds of quality photography time to snap detailed pictures of the orbiter's black tiles in the search for any launch impact damage.

1839 GMT (2:39 p.m. EDT)

The photo-taking period has started for the station crew, now that the shuttle has rotated with its underside facing the station.

1837 GMT (2:37 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis is nose-up facing the station as the two craft fly more than 200 miles over South America.

1835 GMT (2:35 p.m. EDT)

The rendezvous pitch maneuver -- the 360-degree flip -- is beginning. The shuttle is the under the control of commander Rick Sturckow, who is flying the ship from the aft flight deck.

1832 GMT (2:32 p.m. EDT)

Distance now 650 feet.

1828 GMT (2:28 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis is arriving on the R-bar, the imaginary line from the station down to Earth. The shuttle is 800 feet from station.

1823 GMT (2:23 p.m. EDT)

At a distance of about 600 feet directly below the station, commander Rick Sturckow will carry out a slow 360-degree rendezvous pitch maneuver, or RPM, that will point the belly of the shuttle at the station.

As the shuttle's underside rotates into view, the station's crew will photograph Atlantis' belly with handheld digital cameras equipped with 400- and 800-millimeter lenses.

The 800mm images should provide one-inch resolution for examination of landing gear door seals and protruding tile gap fillers. The 400mm will yield three-inch resolution.

After completing the RPM maneuver, Atlantis will fly directly ahead of the space station with the shuttle's nose facing deep space and its cargo bay pointed at the lab complex. Then Sturckow will guide the spacecraft to a docking with a pressurized mating adapter attached to the Destiny lab module.

1818 GMT (2:18 p.m. EDT)

Now 2,000 feet between the two spacecraft.

1810 GMT (2:10 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis has performed a pair of mid-course correction burns available during the approach.

1805 GMT (2:05 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis is now 7,500 feet from space station.

1738 GMT (1:38 p.m. EDT)

Two hours from docking. Atlantis remains on course for its linkup with the space station.

1702 GMT (1:02 p.m. EDT)

TI burn. The shuttle has performed the Terminal Initiation maneuvering burn to begin the final phase of this afternoon's rendezvous. The brief firing used the left Orbital Maneuvering System engine on the tail of Atlantis.

The TI burn puts the shuttle on a trajectory to directly intercept the orbiting station over the next orbit and a half. This burn is the latest in a series of maneuvers performed by Atlantis during its two days of chasing the station since launch Saturday.

Docking is set for 3:38 p.m. EDT.

1430 GMT (10:30 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle Atlantis is closing in on the international space station today for a long-awaited linkup to deliver a new crew member and a $367 million set of solar arrays. The new arrays are needed to boost the lab's power and help pave the way for arrival of European and Japanese research modules late this year and early next.

Read our full story.

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2007

The Atlantis astronauts late Saturday used the shuttle's robot arm and a powerful camera on the end of a heat-shield inspection boom to take a close-up look at a pulled up insulation blanket on one of the ship's aft rocket pods.

Read our full story.

2255 GMT (6:55 p.m. EDT)

The nose cap inspections were performed as planned, and the port wing survey is almost complete now.

2000 GMT (4:00 p.m. EDT)

The astronauts are nearly complete with the inspection scans of Atlantis' starboard wing using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System. The crew is in the midst of the multi-hour job to survey the shuttle to look for any signs of launch damage. This precautionary safety inspection has become a standard activity for all post-Columbia shuttle crews.

Inspections of the orbiter's nose and the port wing are still to come today.

1525 GMT (11:25 a.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts were awakened a few minutes past 10 a.m. for their first full day in space by a recording of "Big Boy Toys" beamed up from mission control in Houston.

"Good morning, Houston, thanks to my wife, Michelle, and my kids for playing that song," commander Rick Sturckow radioed.

The astronauts plan to spend the day testing spacesuits that will be used during three spacewalks at the international space station next week; checking out the tools they will use during rendezvous with the station Sunday; and carrying out a detailed inspection of the shuttle's nose cap and wing leading edge panels.

Read our full story.

1410 GMT (10:10 a.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts were just awakened to begin Flight Day 2 of the mission. Today will be spend conducting the now-routine post-launch inspections of the shuttle's heatshield, as well as preparing for tomorrow's docking to the space station.

0155 GMT (9:55 p.m. EDT Fri.)

Our launch story has been updated with details from the post-launch news conference.

0123 GMT (9:23 p.m. EDT Fri.)

The payload bay doors have been opened. And Mission Control just gave the astronauts a "go" for on-orbit operations.

0116 GMT (9:16 p.m. EDT Fri.)

The astronauts are working through the procedures to open the payload bay doors.

0018 GMT (8:18 p.m. EDT Fri.)

Atlantis has reached a 142 by 98 mile orbit.

0018 GMT (8:18 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 40 minutes. The twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines on the tail of Atlantis have been fired successfully to propel the shuttle the rest of the way to orbit. The burn occurred over the Indian Ocean.

0017 GMT (8:17 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 39 minutes. The maneuvering engines have ignited for the raising burn.

0015 GMT (8:15 p.m. EDT Fri.)

Running three months late, the space shuttle Atlantis, carrying seven astronauts and a $367 million set of solar panels, roared to life and raced into orbit today, hot on the trail of the international space station. The shuttle's patched-up external fuel tank, its foam insulation heavily damaged by hail in February, appeared to withstand the rigors of launch without shedding any noticeable foam debris.

Read our full story.

0004 GMT (8:04 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 26 minutes. The two flapper doors on the belly of Atlantis are being swung closed to shield the umbilicals that had connected to the external fuel tank.

2358 GMT (7:58 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 20 minutes. Atlantis has reached a preliminary sub-orbital trajectory as planned. Coming up, the Orbital Maneuvering System engines will be fired to raise the orbit at T+plus 38 minutes, 30 seconds.

2348 GMT (7:48 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes. A smooth trip to orbit for Atlantis and crew.

2346 GMT (7:46 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes, 50 seconds. The emptied external tank has been jettisoned from the belly of space shuttle Atlantis. The tank will fall back into the atmosphere where it will burn up harmlessly.

2346 GMT (7:46 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes, 35 seconds. MECO! Confirmation that Atlantis' main engines have cutoff as planned, completing the powered phase of the launch.

2346 GMT (7:46 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes. The engines are throttling back.

2345 GMT (7:45 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes, 20 seconds. Atlantis can now reach orbit on the power of one engine.

2345 GMT (7:45 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes. Main engines, fuel cells and APUs continue to perform well as Atlantis nears the completion of powered ascent.

2344 GMT (7:44 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes. The shuttle has started rolling to a heads-up position to improve communications with the TDRS satellite network.

2343 GMT (7:43 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes, 30 seconds. Atlantis can now reach orbit on two engines if one fails. All three are continuing to run fine.

2342 GMT (7:42 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. Atlantis is at an altitude of 62 miles, 175 miles downrange from the pad and traveling at 8,000 mph.

2342 GMT (7:42 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 2 seconds. Negative return. The shuttle is traveling too fast and is too far downrange so it can no longer return to the launch site in the event of a main engine problem.

2341 GMT (7:41 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. Atlantis is 97 miles northeast of the pad, some 51 miles in altitude and traveling at 6,000 mph.

2341 GMT (7:41 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes. The twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines on the ship's tail are burning for an extra boost in thrust. Atlantis' main engines continue to fire, guzzling a half-ton of propellant per second.

2340 GMT (7:40 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 20 seconds. Guidance is converging as programmed. Atlantis' engine nozzles are swiveling to steer the ship toward a precise point for main engine cutoff about six minutes from now.

2340 GMT (7:40 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 10 seconds. A good separation of the twin solid rocket boosters has occurred. The shuttle continues its streak toward space on the power generated by the three liquid-fueled main engines.

2339 GMT (7:39 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 90 seconds. A smooth ride for Atlantis and the seven astronauts. Commander Rick Sturckow, pilot Lee Archambault, flight engineer Steve Swanson and Pat Forrester on the flight deck, with mission specialists Danny Olivas, Jim Reilly and Clay Anderson down on the middeck. Anderson is headed for the station to begin a long-duration stay as part of Expedition 15.

2339 GMT (7:39 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 80 seconds. Atlantis' engines have revved back to full throttle. Mission Control has given the "go" at throttle up call.

2339 GMT (7:39 p.m. EDT)