NASA's Shuttle Atlantis Begins Mission to the Space Station

Feb. 7, 2008

Michael Curie
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4715
michael.curie@xxxxxxxx

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@xxxxxxxx

RELEASE: 08-035

NASA'S SHUTTLE ATLANTIS BEGINS MISSION TO THE SPACE STATION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member
crew lifted off at 2:45 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 7 from NASA's
Kennedy Space Center to begin the STS-122 mission to the
International Space Station.

During the 11-day flight, Commander Steve Frick and his six crewmates
will install the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory on the
station. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station
and provide scientists around the world with the ability to conduct a
variety of life, physical and materials science experiments. The
mission will include three spacewalks, delivery of a new crew member
to the station and the return of another astronaut after nearly four
months aboard the complex.

Shortly before launch, Frick thanked the teams that helped make the
launch possible.

"We're looking forward to a great flight and coming back to see our
families in two weeks," Frick said. "It looks like today's a good
day, and we're ready to go fly."

Joining Frick on STS-122 are pilot Alan Poindexter and mission
specialists Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanley Love and European
Space Agency astronauts Hans Schlegel and Leopold Eyharts. Eyharts
will replace current station resident Dan Tani, who has lived on the
outpost since October. Eyharts will return to Earth on shuttle
Endeavour's STS-123 mission, which is currently targeted for launch
on March 11, 2008.

During the countdown, a newly-designed connector in the shuttle's
fuel
sensor system performed normally. The STS-122 mission was twice
delayed in December 2007 after false readings occurred in that system
while Atlantis' external fuel tank was being filled. Tests revealed
that open circuits in the external tank's feed through connector were
the most likely cause. A modified connector, designed with pins and
sockets soldered together, was installed for the mission. The sensor
system is one of several that protects the shuttle's main engines by
triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.

NASA is providing continuous television and Internet coverage of
Atlantis' mission, which is the 121st shuttle flight, the 29th for
Atlantis and the 24th shuttle mission to the station.

NASA Television features live mission events, daily mission status
news conferences and 24-hour commentary. NASA TV is webcast at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

NASA Web coverage of STS-122 includes current mission information,
interactive features, and news conference images, graphics and
videos. Mission coverage, including the latest NASA TV schedule, also
is available on the main space shuttle Web site at:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Daily news conferences with STS-122 mission managers take place at
NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. Reporters may ask questions
from participating NASA locations. Please contact your preferred NASA
facility by its daily close of business to confirm its availability
before each event.

For information about other NASA missions and activities, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


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