Atlantis Arrives At Launch Pad

Shuttle Atlantis has been safely installed at launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, after rolling out from the Vehicle Assembly Building this morning.

It was believed to be the first time a shuttle has been moved into launch position while the space center was still in a hurricane alert mode.

After being delayed by tropical storms Fay and Hanna, shuttle managers are now keeping a close eye on the powerful Hurricane Ike, which forecasts show has the potential to threaten Florida in about a week.

Amid that uncertainty, Atlantis began its 3.5-mile journey at 9:19 a.m., about 40 minutes ahead of schedule.

About a dozen workers operated the crawler transporter carrying Atlantis, some walking alongside its eight massive tread belts to look out for debris in the crawlerway's two 40-foot wide lanes.

The back of the transporter carried a sign that read, "We're behind you, Atlantis!"

The shuttle reached the launch pad around 2 p.m. The mobile launch platform - attached by four giant bolts to each of the shuttle's twin solid rocket boosters - was lowered on to the pad's six pedestals by around 4 p.m.

Angie Brewer, flow director for Atlantis, said the rollout timing leaves four contingency days in the launch schedule before the expected Sept. 19 installation of the shuttle's cargo. There is no room for delays after that.

The cargo includes two new science instruments, six gyroscopes and six batteries that will extend the telescope's life until at least 2013.

Roughly two years ago, this mission was expected to be the last before Atlantis became the first shuttle retired, in advance of a 2010 presidential deadline to ground the three-orbiter fleet.

But Atlantis now has two more missions scheduled, both to the International Space Station.

Atlantis would return to the 52-story assembly building - "back to the barn," as Brewer said - if hurricane force winds were forecast to reach Cape Canaveral within 40 hours.

"We're confident we can get out there, and if we need to we can get back in time," said Brewer.

Following Atlantis, Endeavour is scheduled to roll out to launch pad 39B, the northernmost of the two shuttle launch sites, in just two weeks. Endeavour will fly on a rescue mission if Atlantis suffers damage that endangers its seven-member crew.

IAMGE NOTE: Click to enlarge the picture of Atlantis at launch pad 39A, provided by cameras at Kennedy Space Center.