Space shuttle Atlantis set to launch on September 6

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Atlantis stands on Launch Pad 39B just before the rotating service structure was moved into place to safely cloak the shuttle from Tropical Depression Ernesto.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

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About Atlantis

Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis is one of the fleet of space shuttles belonging to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It was the fourth operational shuttle built. Following the destruction of Columbia, it is one of the three fully operational shuttles remaining in the fleet. The other two are Discovery and Endeavour. After it completes STS-125, the final Hubble Space Telescope service mission, Atlantis is scheduled to be the first shuttle retired from the fleet.

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Thursday, August 31, 2006

NASA says it will launch the space shuttle Atlantis on Wednesday, September 6, at 12:29 p.m. Countdown until launch will begin on Sunday.

NASA officials also say that the shuttle, launch pad and facilities at the space center suffered no damage from tropical depression Ernesto.

"We had no damage. Zero. Nada. We fully anticipate being ready to go as early as September 6," said Bruce Buckingham, a spokesman for NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

"There was no water intrusion in any operational areas, and so basically we came through this one unscathed," said Bill Johnson, a spokesman for NASA.

If any delay causes the shuttle not to launch on Wednesday, NASA will attempt another launch two days from Wednesday.

A bolt of lightning struck the launch pad which caused NASA to delay the shuttle launch. No damage was sustained when the bolt hit.

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