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)

T+plus 60 seconds. One minute into the flight. The main engines and twin solid rocket boosters are producing 7 million pounds of thrust.

2338 GMT (7:38 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 35 seconds. Atlantis' three main engines are throttling down to reduce the aerodynamic stresses on the vehicle as it powers through the dense lower atmosphere.

2338 GMT (7:38 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 25 seconds. The shuttle has completed the roll to the proper northeast heading up the eastern seaboard of the United States for a 51.6 degree inclination orbit.

2338 GMT (7:38 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 15 seconds. Atlantis is maneuvering on course for its rendezvous with the space station. Arrival is expected at about 3:45 p.m. EDT on Sunday.

2338:04 GMT (7:38:04 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of Atlantis, bringing more power to the space station with a new set of solar wings! And the shuttle has cleared the tower!

2337:33 GMT (7:37:33 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 31 seconds. AUTO SEQUENCE START! The handoff has occurred from the Ground Launch Sequencer to the space shuttle. Atlantis' computers now controlling.

In the next few seconds, the solid rocket booster hydraulic steering system will be started, the orbiter's body flap and speed brake moved to their launch positions, the firing chain armed. Main engine ignition begins at T-minus 6.6 seconds.

2337:04 GMT (7:37:04 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. Computers are verifying that the main engines are ready for ignition. Sound suppression water system is armed. The system will activate at T-minus 16 seconds to suppress the sound produced at launch. And the residual hydrogen burn ignitors are armed. They will be fired at T-minus 10 seconds to burn off hydrogen gas from beneath the main engine nozzles.

Shortly, the external tank strut heaters will be turned off; Atlantis will transition to internal power; the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen outboard fill and drain valves will be closed; the payload bay vent doors will be positioned for the launch; and the gaseous oxygen vent arm will be verified fully retracted.

2336:04 GMT (7:36:04 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes. The astronauts are being instructed to close and lock the visors on their launch and entry helmets.

At T-minus 1 minute, 57 seconds the replenishment to the flight load of liquid hydrogen in the external tank will be terminated and tank pressurization will begin.

2335:34 GMT (7:35:34 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The external tank liquid oxygen vent valve has been closed and pressurization of the LOX tank has started.

Atlantis' power-producing fuel cells are transfering to internal reactants. The units will begin providing all electricity for the mission beginning at T-50 seconds.

And pilot Lee Archambault has been asked to clear the caution and warning memory system aboard Atlantis. He will verify no unexpected errors in the system.

In the next few seconds, the gaseous oxygen vent hood will be removed from atop the external tank. Verification that the swing arm is fully retracted will be made by the ground launch sequencer at the T-minus 37 second mark.

2335:04 GMT (7:35:04 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes. Orbiter steering check is now complete; the main engine nozzles are in their start positions.

2334:34 GMT (7:34:34 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. The main engine nozzles now being moved through a computer controlled test pattern to demonstrate their readiness to support guidance control during launch today.

2334:04 GMT (7:34:04 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes. Activation of the APUs is complete. The three units are up and running normally.

And the final helium purge sequence is underway in the main propulsion system. This procedure readies fuel system valves for engine start. In the next few seconds, the aerosurfaces of Atlantis will be run through a pre-planned mobility test to ensure readiness for launch. This is also a dress rehearsal for flight of the orbiter's hydraulic systems.

2333:04 GMT (7:33:04 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes. The "go" has been given for for Auxiliary Power Unit start. Pilot Lee Archambault is now flipping three switches in Atlantis' cockpit to start each of the three APU's. The units, located in the aft compartment of Atlantis, provide the pressure needed to power the hydraulic systems of the shuttle. The units will be used during the launch and landing phases of the mission for such events as moving the orbiter's aerosurfaces, gimbaling the main engine nozzles and deploying the landing gear.

Over the course of the next minute, the orbiter's heaters will be configured for launch by commander Rick Sturckow, the fuel valve heaters on the main engines will be turned off in preparation for engine ignition at T-6.6 seconds and the external tank and solid rocket booster safe and arm devices will be armed.

2332:34 GMT (7:32:34 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes, 30 seconds. APU pre-start is complete and the units are ready for activation. The orbiters flight data recorders have gone into the record mode to collect measurements of shuttle systems performance during flight.

2332:04 GMT (7:32:04 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 6 minutes. Pilot Lee Archambault has been asked by the orbiter test conductor to pre-start the orbiter Auxiliary Power Units. This procedure readies the three APU's for their activation after the countdown passes T-minus 5 minutes.

2330:34 GMT (7:30:34 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. The Ground Launch Sequencer has started pulling the orbiter access arm away from the crew hatch on the port side of the vehicle. The arm was the passage way for the astronauts to board Atlantis a few hours ago. The arm can be re-extended very quickly should the need arise later in the countdown.

2330:04 GMT (7:30:04 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 8 minutes and counting. Pilot Lee Archambault has flipped the switches in the cockpit of Atlantis to directly connect the three onboard fuel cells with the essential power buses. Also, the stored program commands have been issued to the orbiter.

2329:04 GMT (7:29:04 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes and counting! The Ground Launch Sequencer is now actively running this final phase of tonight's countdown to launch space shuttle Atlantis.

2327 GMT (7:27 p.m. EDT)

Countdown clock will resume in two minutes.

Once the countdown picks up, the Ground Launch Sequencer will be initiated. The computer program is located in a console in the Firing Room of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center. The GLS is the master of events through liftoff. During the last 9 minutes of the countdown, the computer will monitor as many as a thousand different systems and measurements to ensure that they do not fall out of any pre-determine red-line limits. At T-minus 31 seconds, the GLS will hand off to the onboard computers of Atlantis to complete their own automatic sequence of events through the final half minute of the countdown.

2324 GMT (7:24 p.m. EDT)

NASA launch director Mike Leinbach has conducted his poll and given approval to resume the countdown for liftoff at 7:38 p.m. this evening!

2324 GMT (7:24 p.m. EDT)

The final readiness poll by the NASA test director Steve Payne confirms there are no technical issues being addressed. The Range also reports "go" on the local weather. And Mission Control says that the TAL weather in France is acceptable.

2319 GMT (7:19 p.m. EDT)

Ten minutes are remaining in this built-in hold. Final readiness polls will be conducted over the next few minutes.

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

Now 30 minutes from launch of Atlantis. All remains quiet in Firing Room 4 of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center. No issues are being worked.

2304 GMT (7:04 p.m. EDT)

Weather at the abort landing site in Istres in France was just announced "go." That would give NASA the one required Transatlantic Abort Landing site for launch this evening.

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

At main engine cutoff, Atlantis will be flying on a suborbital trajectory with a high point of 137 miles and low point of 36 miles. A half-hour later, the twin orbital maneuvering engines will be fired to place the shuttle into a 140 by 98 mile orbit.

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

The International Space Station is orbiting 220 miles above Earth. At launch, it will be over the Indian Ocean, southwest of Australia. Liftoff is timed to place Atlantis on course to dock with the station at 3:45 p.m. EST Sunday.

2248 GMT (6:48 p.m. EDT)

A concern has arisen in the countdown. Both of the Transatlantic Abort Landing sites available today -- Zaragoza in Spain and Istres in France -- are having weather issues right now. There are rainshowers at Zaragoza and fog at Istres. One of the sites must have acceptable weather for Atlantis to be cleared for launch.

If Atlantis experiences a problem with its main engines or some other critical system, the shuttle needs to have one of the TAL sites available to land immediately during the ascent.

Local weather here at Kennedy Space Center remains "go."

2243 GMT (6:43 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes and holding. Countdown clocks have gone into the planned 46-minute, 4-second built-in hold. Today's launch remains set for 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. Weather is still "go" at this time.

2242 GMT (6:42 p.m. EDT)

The Closeout Crew has completed stowing the platforms and equipment in the White Room following crew module closure. The team is preparing to depart the pad now.

2241 GMT (6:41 p.m. EDT)

Mission Control in Houston has loaded Atlantis' onboard computers with the proper guidance parameters based on the projected launch time.

2239 GMT (6:39 p.m. EDT)

The Main Propulsion System helium system is being reconfigured by pilot Lee Archambault. Soon the gaseous nitrogen purge to the aft skirts of the solid rocket boosters will be started.

2238 GMT (6:38 p.m. EDT)

Now one hour away from launch of Atlantis.

Pilot Lee Archambault is configuring the displays inside Atlantis' cockpit for launch while commander Rick Sturckow enables the abort steering instrumentation.

2235 GMT (6:35 p.m. EDT)

The official launch window this evening opens at 7:38:04 p.m. and closes at 7:41:22 p.m. EDT.

2232 GMT (6:32 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The countdown has resumed after a 10-minute hold. Clocks will tick down for the next 11 minutes to T-minus 9 minutes where the final planned hold is scheduled to occur. The hold length will be adjusted to synch up with today's preferred launch time of 7:38:04 p.m.

Atlantis' onboard computers are now transitioning to the Major Mode-101 program, the primary ascent software. Also, engineers are dumping the Primary Avionics Software System (PASS) onboard computers. The data that is dumped from each of PASS computers is compared to verify that the proper software is loaded aboard for launch.

2222 GMT (6:22 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has paused for a 10-minute built-in hold. Launch is scheduled for 7:38 p.m. EDT. Everything is going smoothly with the countdown and weather is still looking good.

During this built-in hold, all computer programs in Firing Room 4 of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center will be verified to ensure that the proper programs are available for the countdown; the landing convoy status will be verified and the landing sites will be checked to support an abort landing during launch today; the Inertial Measurement Unit preflight alignment will be verified completed; and preparations are made to transition the orbiter onboard computers to Major Mode 101 upon coming out of the hold. This configures the computer memory to a terminal countdown configuration.

2216 GMT (6:16 p.m. EDT)

Commander Rick Sturckow has pressurized the gaseous nitrogen system for Atlantis' Orbital Maneuvering System engines, and pilot Lee Archambault has activated the gaseous nitrogen supply for the orbiter's Auxiliary Power Units' water spray boilers.

2203 GMT (6:03 p.m. EDT)

The ground pyro initiator controllers (PICs) are scheduled to be powered up around this time in the countdown. They are used to fire the solid rocket hold-down posts, liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tail service mast and external tank vent arm system pyros at liftoff and the space shuttle main engine hydrogen gas burn system prior to engine ignition.

The shuttle's two Master Events Controllers are being tested. They relay the commands from the shuttle's computers to ignite, and then separate the boosters and external tank during launch.

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

The shuttle's crew compartment hatch is confirmed to be closed and latched for flight.

2142 GMT (5:42 p.m. EDT)

Now passing the T-minus 1 hour mark in the countdown. Two scheduled holds are planned at T-minus 20 minutes and T-minus 9 minutes, leading to the target liftoff time of 7:38 p.m.

The final pre-flight alignment of Atlantis' guidance system inertial measurement units is underway.

Weather conditions remain "go" for launch at this time. Skies have cleared over Kennedy Space Center and things look good right now.

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

The "go" was just given to close Atlantis' crew module hatch for launch.

2138 GMT (5:38 p.m. EDT)

Two hours to go.

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

A series of routine communications checks between the Atlantis crew on various audio channels is underway.

2112 GMT (5:12 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 90 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks continue to tick down to T-minus 20 minutes where the next hold is planned. Countdown activities remain on track for liftoff at 7:38 p.m. There are no technical issues being worked and the weather is acceptable right now.

At this point in the count, the Ground Launch Sequencer software that will control the final nine minutes of the countdown has been initialized. Also, the solid rocket boosters' gas generator heaters in the hydraulic power units are turned on, the aft skirt gaseous nitrogen purge is starting and the rate gyro assemblies (RGAs) are being activated. The RGAs are used by the orbiter's navigation system to determine rates of motion of the boosters during the first stage of flight.

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

The final crewmember just boarded Atlantis. Steve Swanson serves as mission specialist No. 2 and flight engineer on Atlantis. The rookie calls Steamboat Springs, Colorado his hometown. He will ride in the flight deck's aft-center seat.

Read his biography here.

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

Clay Anderson has entered the shuttle to take the right-side seat on the middeck. The spaceflight rookie is riding the shuttle to the International Space Station where he will join the Expedition 15 long-duration resident crew and replace departing crewmember Suni Williams. Anderson considers Ashland, Nebraska to be his hometown.

Read Anderson' biography here.

2048 GMT (4:48 p.m. EDT)

Pat Forrester, a retired Army colonel born in El Paso, Texas, is mission specialist No. 1 for Atlantis. His previous shuttle flight was STS-105 in 2001. He is climbing to the flight deck's aft-right seat.

Read his biography here.

2038 GMT (4:38 p.m. EDT)

Three hours and counting until liftoff time.

2032 GMT (4:32 p.m. EDT)

Rookie Danny Olivas, who was raised in El Paso, Texas serves as mission specialist No. 3 on Atlantis' STS-117 flight. He just entered the orbiter to take the middeck's left seat.

Read his biography here.

2030 GMT (4:30 p.m. EDT)

Air Force Colonel Lee Archambault, the pilot of Atlantis, is making his way to the flight deck's front-right seat. The rookie astronaut is from Illinois.

Read his biography here.

2019 GMT (4:19 p.m. EDT)

Veteran astronaut Jim Reilly, the lead spacewalker and mission specialist No. 4 for STS-117 has boarded Atlantis to take the middeck's right-side seat. He considers Mesquite, Texas to be his hometown.

Read his biography here.

2015 GMT (4:15 p.m. EDT)

Commander Rick Sturckow is the first astronaut to board the shuttle. He is taking the forward-left seat on the flight deck.

The Marine colonel, a California native, has flown on two previous shuttle missions -- as pilot of STS-88 that began space station assembly in 1998 and STS-105 in 2001. Read his biography here.

2004 GMT (4:04 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis' crew arrived at launch pad 39A at 4:03 p.m. The AstroVan came to a stop on the pad surface near the Fixed Service Structure tower elevator that will take the seven-man crew to the 195-foot level to begin boarding the shuttle.

1958 GMT (3:58 p.m. EDT)

The AstroVan is passing the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building where Atlantis was attached to its external tank and solid rocket boosters and the adjacent Launch Control Center.

The Press Site is located across the street, and reporters went outdoors to watch at the passing convoy. This is a launch day tradition to say farewell and good luck to the astronaut crews.

1948 GMT (3:48 p.m. EDT)

Commander Rick Sturckow, pilot Lee Archambault and mission specialists Pat Forrester, Steve Swanson, Danny Olivas, Jim Reilly and Clay Anderson just departed the Kennedy Space Center crew quarters to board the AstroVan for the 20-minute ride from the Industrial Area to launch pad 39A on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

1942 GMT (3:42 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 hours and counting. The countdown clocks are ticking again after the planned three-hour built-in hold. Clocks will proceed to T-minus 20 minutes when the next hold is scheduled. A final hold occurs at the T-minus 9 minute mark to synch up with the 7:38:04 p.m. EDT launch time.

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

Four hours from launch. Launch weather conditions are "go" right now.

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

The inspection team is preparing to leave the launch pad. They'll be giving a report to launch director Mike Leinbach once back at the Firing Room. However, there were no significant issues reported in real-time during the inspections.

1922 GMT (3:22 p.m. EDT)

The crew has donned the day-glow orange launch and entry partial pressure spacesuits. After final adjustments and pressure checks, the astronauts will depart the suitup room and take the elevator down to the ground level of the Operations and Checkout Building to board the AstroVan for the trip to launch pad 39A around 3:47 p.m.

1907 GMT (3:07 p.m. EDT)

Commander Rick Sturckow, pilot Lee Archambault and flight engineer Steve Swanson are receiving a weather briefing on expected conditions at the Kennedy Space Center and the primary abort landing sites. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew is moving into the suitup room to start donning their suits.

1838 GMT (2:38 p.m. EDT)

Now entering the final five hours to launch of Atlantis.

Launch weather officer Kathy Winters says the showers experienced earlier have dissipated with the setup of the daily seabreeze. The view out of the window toward launch pad 39A definitely shows clearer skies now. And all weather rules are "go" for launch at the present time.

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

The Final Inspection Team is performing its observations of Atlantis this afternoon.

The team is responsible for checking the shuttle and launch pad one last time prior to liftoff. The team is comprised of engineers and safety officials from NASA, United Space Alliance and tank-builder Lockheed Martin. At the conclusion of their two-hour tour-of-duty, the team will have walked up and down the entire fixed service structure and mobile launcher platform.

The team is on the lookout for any abnormal ice or frost build-up on the vehicle and integrity of the external tank foam insulation.

The team uses a portable infrared scanner that gathers temperature measurements on the surface area of the shuttle and can spot leaks. The scanner will be used to obtain temperature data on the external tank, solid rocket boosters, space shuttle orbiter, main engines and launch pad structures. The scanner can also spot leaks of the cryogenic propellants, and due to its ability to detect distinct temperature differences, can spot any dangerous hydrogen fuel that is burning. The team member also is responsible for photo documentation.

The team wears the highly visible day-glow orange coveralls that are anti-static and flame resistant. Each member also has a self-contained emergency breathing unit that holds about 10 minutes of air.

1742 GMT (1:42 p.m. EDT)

The astronauts have been seated in the crew quarters' dining room for the traditional launch morning photo. They will be moving into the suitup room shortly to begin donning the launch and entry spacesuits before heading to the launch pad later this afternoon.

1730 GMT (1:30 p.m. EDT)

The launch team is not tracking any technical issues in the countdown. Weather conditions are the only worry right now.

1710 GMT (1:10 p.m. EDT)

Filling of Atlantis' external fuel tank was called complete at 12:57 p.m. EDT. The tank has been pumped full with a half-million gallons of supercold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The three-hour fueling process started at 9:55 a.m. with the chilldown conditioning.

But given the cryogenic nature of the oxidizer and propellant, the supplies naturally boil away. So the tanks are continuously topped off until the final minutes of the countdown in a procedure called "stable replenishment."

With the hazardous tanking operation completed, the Orbiter Closeout Crew and Final Inspection Team have been given the OK to go out to the pad to perform their jobs. The closeout crew will ready Atlantis' crew module for the astronauts' ingress in a couple of hours; and the inspection team will give the entire vehicle a check for any ice formation following fueling.

1642 GMT (12:42 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 hours and holding. The countdown has gone into the next planned hold in the timeline. This hold is scheduled to last three hours.

1630 GMT (12:30 p.m. EDT)

Loading of the external tank is nearing completion under cloudy skies. Weather conditions are "red" at the moment due to violations of the cumulus and anvil cloud rules. The weather team continuously monitors the conditions and marks the launch rules "green" or "red" throughout the countdown. South of the Kennedy Space Center, it has been raining lightly throughout the morning.

1420 GMT (10:20 a.m. EDT)

Engineers at the Kennedy Space Center began pumping a half-million gallons of supercold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen rocket fuel into the shuttle Atlantis' repaired external tank today at 9:55 a.m., setting the stage for launch at 7:38 p.m. on a space assembly mission. This will be NASA's first shuttle flight of 2007, thanks to a three-month delay to fix hail damage.

The three-hour fueling process, carried out by remote control from the firing room 3.2 miles from launch pad 39A, should be complete around 1 p.m. NASA television coverage is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. followed by a traditional dining room photo opportunity with the crew.

Wearing bright orange pressure suits, commander Rick Sturckow, pilot Lee Archambault, flight engineer Steve Swanson, Patrick Forrester, Danny Olivas, Jim Reilly and space station astronaut Clay Anderson are scheduled to depart crew quarters at 3:47 p.m. and head for the pad.

Read our full story.

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

NASA has revised the official start time for tanking to 9:55 a.m.

1354 GMT (9:54 a.m. EDT)

FUELING UNDERWAY. The filling of space shuttle Atlantis' external fuel tank with a half-million gallons of supercold propellants has begun at launch pad 39A.

The tanking operation commenced with the chilldown thermal conditioning process at 9:50 a.m. This will be followed by the slow-fill mode and then the fast-fill mode.

The cryogenics are pumped from storage spheres at the pad, through feed lines to the mobile launcher platform, into Atlantis' aft compartment and finally into the external fuel tank.

There are two tanks inside the shuttle's external fuel tank. The liquid oxygen tank occupies the top third of the bullet-shaped tank. It will be filled with 143,000 gallons of liquid oxygen chilled to minus 298 degrees Fahrenheit. The liquid hydrogen tank is contained in the bottom two-thirds of the external tank. It holds 385,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen chilled to minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit.

1325 GMT (9:25 a.m. EDT)

The Mission Management Team has given a "go" to begin fueling space shuttle Atlantis for this evening's liftoff. The weather forecast remains 80 percent "go" for the 7:38 p.m. launch. Clouds are the only worry.

"An upper level low off the east coast of Florida is creating a broad shield of mid clouds and rain showers along the Space Coast. This low and the associated showers should gradually move southwest allowing drier mid-level air to move in by launch time. At the surface, easterly winds will allow the sea breeze and its associated weather to push inland by early afternoon. Upper level winds are forecast to be from the east today, so anvils from any inland thunderstorms that develop should remain inland by launch time," the launch weather team reported this morning.

"By Saturday afternoon the upper level low is forecast to be over southern Florida, creating favorable conditions for launch; therefore, the 24-hour forecast probability of KSC weather prohibiting launch is decreased to 20 percent.

"Our primary concern for launch day is cumulus clouds."

0401 GMT (12:01 a.m. EDT)

Final preparations are underway at launch pad 39A in advance of fueling space shuttle Atlantis' external tank with a half-million gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants.

The rotating service structure has been pulled back to reveal Atlantis, and now technicians are performing the last steps to secure the pad for Friday evening's launch.

Other activities overnight include configuring all of the switches in the cockpit, activating the shuttle's three power-producing fuel cells and clearing the blast danger area of non-essential personnel.

At 7:42 a.m., the countdown will be going into the two-hour planned hold at the T-minus 6 hour mark. The management team will be meeting to review the progress of the countdown, look at the weather and give the formal "go" to begin fueling. The three-hour fueling process should begin around 9:40 a.m.

The seven astronauts will be awakened for launch day at 10 a.m.

Liftoff of Atlantis remains scheduled for 7:38 p.m. EDT.

0305 GMT (11:05 p.m. EDT Thurs.)

The gantry-like rotating service structure has begun moving away from space shuttle Atlantis as launch preparations continue at pad 39A.

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2007
1530 GMT (11:30 a.m. EDT)

Making up lost time after a stormy night at the launch pad, shuttle workers at the Kennedy Space Center expect to have Atlantis ready for blastoff Friday night on a long-delayed space station assembly mission. There are no technical problems at pad 39A and forecasters now predict an 80 percent chance of good weather at launch time.

Read our full story.

1402 GMT (10:02 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' fuel cells were loaded with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants last night. The filling was delayed a bit due to the bad weather that passed through the Kennedy Space Center area yesterday afternoon.

The countdown is continuing toward a launch Friday at 7:38 p.m. EDT.

"We are currently tracking no significant issues on the vehicle," says Steve Payne, NASA test director.

The weather forecast for launch time has improved to an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions. Cumulus clouds are the only concern.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2007
2130 GMT (5:30 p.m. EDT)

NASA's mission management team cleared the shuttle Atlantis for blastoff Friday on a space station assembly mission delayed three months by hail damage to the ship's external fuel tank. Even as the MMT assessed the shuttle's readiness to fly, thunderstorms rumbled toward the Kennedy Space Center and forecasters predicted possible half-inch hail and wind gusts higher than 50 knots at the Kennedy Space Center.

Read our full story.

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

The early phase of the countdown is progressing smoothly at launch pad 39A as preparations get underway for loading the shuttle's fuel cells later today.

"Everything has been going well," said Jeff Spaulding, NASA test director. "We are not tracking any significant issues at all to the launch countdown."

The three fuel cells combine liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants to generate electricity during the mission and produce drinking water as a byproduct. The cryogenics will be pumped into storage tanks located beneath Atlantis' payload bay starting late this afternoon.

The countdown's first planned built-in hold occurs at the T-27 hour point at 1 p.m. The pause will last four hours, giving the launch team a chance to catch up on any work that could be running behind schedule before the fuel cell servicing commences.

The latest update to the launch weather forecast indicates a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions Friday night due to the chance of thunderstorms.

The Mission Management Team will hold its Launch Minus-2 Day readiness meeting this afternoon. One topic will be the replacement of small umbilical lines on the external tank for the next shuttle mission, Spaulding said. The alignment of the lines was found to be out of tolerance.

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2007

Countdown clocks inside Firing Room 4 of Kennedy Space Center's Complex 39 Launch Control Center have started ticking for Friday evening's blastoff of shuttle Atlantis.

The shuttle launch team gathered at 8:30 p.m. for the "call to stations" in the recently-modernized control room to pick up the three-day countdown procedure. Clocks officially started counting backward from the T-minus 43 hour mark at 9 p.m. EDT.

The countdown has nearly 28 hours of scheduled hold time leading to liftoff at 7:38 p.m. EDT Friday.

Initial activities in the count include the start of shuttle and launch pad closeouts, reviewing software stored in Atlantis' mass memory units and display systems and loading backup flight system software into the ship's General Purpose Computers.

The payload bay doors were closed for flight earlier today, and NASA spokesman George Diller says all launch preparations continue on schedule at pad 39A.

The seven astronauts donned their launch and entry spacesuits today for a fit check. This evening, the commander and pilot flew practice landing approaches in the Shuttle Training Aircraft at Kennedy Space Center's runway. The crew will begin an eight-hour sleep period at 1 a.m.

NASA plans a countdown status briefing at 10 a.m. Wednesday from KSC. Watch this page for an update following the news conference.

1500 GMT (11 a.m. EDT)

Shuttle engineers are gearing up today for the start of Atlantis' countdown to blastoff on a mission to deliver a new set of solar arrays to the international space station. With forecasters predicting a 70 percent chance of good weather, the countdown is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. this evening, targeting a launch attempt at 7:38 p.m. Friday.

Read our full story.

MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2007

The seven-man crew of space shuttle Atlantis arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Monday, having flown to the launch site from Houston aboard T-38 training jets. The astronauts are set for launch Friday evening on a mission to the space station.

Read our full story.

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2007

NASA managers Thursday wrapped up a two-day flight readiness review and cleared the shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member crew for blastoff June 8, at 7:38 p.m., on a hail-delayed mission to deliver a new set of solar arrays to the international space station.

Read our full story.

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2007

The Rotating Service Structure was moved around Atlantis this evening, cocooning the shuttle for its three-week stay on the pad. Atlantis' payload bay doors now can be opened for installation of the Starboard 3/Starboard 4 truss cargo on Wednesday.

1717 GMT (1:17 p.m. EDT)

Ground crews are busily working through post-rollout activities at launch pad 39A this afternoon. Three arms on the pad's fixed tower have been swung into position to reach the shuttle, including the Orbiter Access Arm leading to Atlantis' crew module, the gaseous oxygen vent hood that goes over the top of the external tank and the servicing arm on the backside of the tank.

The Rotating Service Structure -- the pad's large moveable gantry -- will be positioned around Atlantis later to give technicians access into the payload bay.

1620 GMT (12:20 p.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis officially took its place atop Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39A at 11:47 a.m. EDT today, capping a six-hour, 45-minute rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building.

The rollout completion time is based on the mobile launch platform going "harddown" on the pad's pedestal mounts.

With Atlantis back on the pad after undergoing two months of repairs to its external tank foam, preparations now kick into high gear for the planned June 8 launch to the space station.

The shuttle's prime cargo -- the Starboard 3/Starboard 4 station truss element -- will be tucked into Atlantis' payload bay this week. The truss has been in storage within the pad's cleanroom while Atlantis was in the VAB for repairs.

The S3/S4 truss is a mirror to the P3/P4 truss launched by Atlantis last fall. The trusses feature giant solar wings that will be unfurled in space to generate power for the station.

With today's move to the pad, a day earlier than originally envisioned, NASA now has four days of slack time available in the pre-flight timeline leading to launch June 8.

The liftoff time on June 8 is targeted for 7:38 p.m. EDT (2338 GMT).

1620 GMT (12:20 p.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis officially took its place atop Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39A at 11:47 a.m. EDT today, capping a six-hour, 45-minute rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building.

The rollout completion time is based on the mobile launch platform going "harddown" on the pad's pedestal mounts.

With Atlantis back on the pad after undergoing two months of repairs to its external tank foam, preparations now kick into high gear for the planned June 8 launch to the space station.

The shuttle's prime cargo -- the Starboard 3/Starboard 4 station truss element -- will be tucked into Atlantis' payload bay this week. The truss has been in storage within the pad's cleanroom while Atlantis was in the VAB for repairs.

The S3/S4 truss is a mirror to the P3/P4 truss launched by Atlantis last fall. The trusses feature giant solar wings that will be unfurled in space to generate power for the station.

With today's move to the pad, a day earlier than originally envisioned, NASA now has four days of slack time available in the pre-flight timeline leading to launch June 8.

The liftoff time on June 8 is targeted for 7:38 p.m. EDT (2338 GMT).

1530 GMT (11:30 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis reached the launch pad a little while ago. Technicians are now working to lower the mobile launch platform down to rest on the pad pedestals, freeing the crawler to disengage and drive away. Once the platform is firmly secured to the pedestals, the rollout officially will be called complete.

1235 GMT (8:35 a.m. EDT)

Shuttle Atlantis is making good time on its trip out to the launch pad this morning. The Apollo-era transporter is more than half-way to pad 39A.

The repairs on the tank are very noticeable on the top areas of the fuel tank, appearing bright white against the otherwise orange foam exterior.

Journalists and employees alike are stopping along the crawlerway to snap photos of the shuttle's move under a beautiful partly cloudy backdrop.

0915 GMT (5:15 a.m. EDT)

ROLLOUT UNDERWAY. Atlantis began the slow journey toward the launch pad at 5:02 a.m. EDT this morning. NASA projects the shuttle should be in position at pad 39A by 12 noon. Weather forecasts for rollout are favorable, an agency spokesman says.

0401 GMT (12:01 a.m. EDT)

Workers are reporting for duty to transfer space shuttle Atlantis from the Vehicle Assembly Building to launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center this morning. The schedule for final preparations will lead to first motion of the crawler-transporter around 4 a.m. EDT.

Moving at a top speed of one mile-per-hour, Atlantis' trip should be completed with the mobile launch platform secured on the launch pad pedestals by 11 a.m.

Watch this page for live reports on the rollout, plus photos and video from KSC.

MONDAY, MAY 14, 2007

Quick work over the weekend has allowed shuttle program officials to move up plans to return Atlantis to launch pad 39A. The rollout is now scheduled to start at 4 a.m. EDT Tuesday, weather permitting. The 3.5-mile trek will take about seven hours to complete. Atlantis has been in the Vehicle Assembly Building for the past two months undergoing hail-damage repairs on the external tank foam.

FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2007

The shuttle Atlantis' hail-damaged external fuel tank has been repaired, NASA officials said today, clearing the shuttle for rollout to launch pad 39A next week. Blastoff on a long-delayed space station assembly mission is targeted for June 8.

"I'm really pleased to say we have effectively completed the repairs on the external tank," shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale told reporters during a teleconference today. "I think the team that worked on the external tank across the country, we're really proud of what they have done. ... It's just an outstanding effort on the parts of hundreds and hundreds of people."

Rollout to the launch pad is scheduled to begin at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, May 16. But launch Director Mike Leinbach said if work to tear down external tank scaffolding and other preparations go well, the trip to the pad could move up one day to Tuesday.

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