NASA Aims For Possible Shuttle Launch Attempt on Sep 8

Sept. 6, 2006

Tracy Young/Katherine Trinidad
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

RELEASE: 06-400

NASA AIMS FOR POSSIBLE SHUTTLE LAUNCH ATTEMPT FRIDAY

NASA is targeting a possible launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on
Friday, Sept. 8 because of a problem associated with one of the
spacecraft's electricity-producing fuel cells. Shuttle program
managers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center decided Wednesday afternoon
additional time was needed to evaluate fuel cell flight history and
potential causes of the malfunction.

Mission managers will hold another meeting Thursday at 1 p.m. EDT to
assess the issue. There will be a news conference on NASA Television
at the conclusion of that meeting. If the team decides to "go" for
launch Friday, lift-off would be at 11:41 a.m. EDT.

Tuesday night as ground teams were preparing for Atlantis' scheduled
launch Wednesday, a voltage spike in the motor of Atlantis' fuel cell
#1 coolant pump was observed during the activation of the shuttle's
three fuel cells. The coolant pump flows Freon through the fuel cell
to prevent it from overheating during flights.

During Atlantis' mission, STS-115, astronauts will deliver and install
a girder-like structure, known as the P3/P4 truss, aboard the
station. The 35,000-pound piece includes a set of giant solar arrays,
batteries and associated electronics. The arrays eventually will
double the station's power capability.

Atlantis' crew, Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Chris Ferguson and mission
specialists Dan Burbank, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joe Tanner and
Steve MacLean, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut, will remain at
Kennedy Space Center while the fuel cell evaluation continues.

For the latest information about the STS-115 mission and its crew and
more information about space shuttle fuel cells, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


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