Shuttle To Launch At 11:41am Edt!

[VydorScope 31]

Atlantis Launches Today

The shuttle Atlantis is set for liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 11:41 a.m. EDT this morning.

Commander Brent Jett and his crew are set to install the 17.5 ton P3/P4 truss on the International Space Station, activating a new set of solar arrays that will double the outpost's ability to generate power from sunlight.

Watch it live on NASA-TV via the link on this page : http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/sts115_front/index.html

Or of your silly enough to pay for cable/statlite , you could turn on your TV too.

[VydorScope 31]

Sept. 8, 8:36 a.m. EDT

The STS-115 crew members are now taking their seats inside Atlantis as the space shuttle awaits liftoff atop Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four of the six astronauts are set to sit in the cockpit, while the two remaining crew members are going to be seated below in the middeck. Once in place, the crew will begin powering up Atlantis' systems and getting the ship configured for launch.

The launch team has reported that an ECO sensor on the hydrogen side of the external tank has failed. At this time the team is pressing forward with launch preparations. Mission Management Team members are meeting to determine if they will consider launching with three working sensors or if it will be necessary to de-tank and come back tomorrow.

[VydorScope 31]

Sept. 8, 10:05 a.m. EDT

The hatch into Atlantis' crew cabin has been locked and sealed for flight following the seating of all six STS-115 astronauts inside the ship. The crew members continue to flip switches and power up the orbiter's systems as the countdown to an 11:41 a.m. launch marches on. The weather in the Kennedy Space Center area is pleasant with temperatures in the upper 70s and wispy clouds fanning across the sky.

Earlier in today's countdown, launch controllers detected a problem with one of the four ECO sensors inside the hydrogen portion the space shuttle's orange External Tank. The sensors monitor hydrogen levels inside of the tank and trigger the orbiter's engines to shutdown when gas levels drop below a specified level. NASA managers are currently meeting to examine the issue and determine if Atlantis is capable of safely launching.

Launch weather remains at 70 percent "go" for launch, with the primary concern for rain within 20 miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility. No other issues are being addressed by the launch team at this time.

[VydorScope 31]

Atlantis' Launch Scrubbed

Sept. 8, 10:54 a.m. EDT

The launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis has been scrubbed due to a problem with one of the vehicle's fuel system sensors. Earlier in today's countdown, launch controllers detected a problem with one of the four ECO sensors inside the hydrogen portion the space shuttle's orange External Tank. The sensors monitor hydrogen levels inside of the tank and trigger the orbiter's engines to shutdown when gas levels drop below a specified level. NASA managers are aiming for another launch attempt on Saturday. More information soon...