NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis Rolls Off Launch Pad Monday

Oct. 14, 2008

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749
katherine.trinidad@xxxxxxxx

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@xxxxxxxx
MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-203

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ROLLS OFF LAUNCH PAD MONDAY

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll
back from Launch Pad 39A to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Oct. 20, to await launch
on its mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. First motion of
the shuttle is scheduled for 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Atlantis' targeted launch on Oct. 10 was delayed when a system that
transfers science data from the orbiting observatory to Earth
malfunctioned on Sept. 27. The new target launch date is under
review.

The fully assembled space shuttle Atlantis, consisting of the
orbiter,
external tank and twin solid rocket boosters, is mounted on a Mobile
Launcher Platform and will be delivered to the Vehicle Assembly
Building atop a crawler transporter. The crawler will travel slower
than 1 mph during the 3.4-mile journey, which is expected to take
approximately six hours.

NASA Television will provide live coverage of Atlantis' rollback
beginning Monday at 6:30 a.m. Video highlights of the rollback will
air on NASA TV Video File.

Media are invited to a photo opportunity of the shuttle's move from
the pad at 6 a.m. Monday. As dates and times of this event are
subject to change, updates are available by calling 321-867-2525.

Media must arrive at Kennedy's News Center by 5 a.m. for
transportation to the viewing area. Foreign news media accreditation
for this event is closed. U.S. media without permanent Kennedy Space
Center credentials must apply for accreditation online by 3 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 16, at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov


Badges may be picked up between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 at
the Kennedy Badging Office on State Road 405, west of Gate 3, just
past the Kennedy Visitor's Complex.

The next space shuttle flight will be shuttle Endeavour's STS-126
mission to the International Space Station, targeted for launch Nov.
14. Endeavour is scheduled to move from Launch Pad 39B to Pad 39A on
Oct. 25.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information about upcoming shuttle missions, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


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