Blogger Update, 11:14 a.m: NASA is targeted 5 p.m. for the post-Flight Readiness Review news conference. You can watch live by clicking the NASA TV box on the right side of the page.NASA is in the midst of a Flight Readiness Review that is widely expected to result in the selection of May 14 as the firmed up launch date for shuttle Atlantis and six astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station.
The last flight of Atlantis, and only one of three remaining before fleet retirement, is tentatively scheduled to blast off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center at 2:20 p.m. May 14, the middle of a 10-minute opportunity to put the shuttle and its crew on course for the station.
NASA engineers and managers will review all aspects of the preparation of Atlantis as well as the agency's readiness to launch the shuttle and carry out its 12-day mission, which would conclude May 26 with a landing at KSC's three-mile shuttle runway.
The one big issue from the recent launch of Discovery -- the failure of its Ku-Band antenna -- already has been resolved. The problem was traced to a failed electronic component, and engineers have confirmed that the same part on Atlantis' antenna is operating properly. Nonetheless, the investigation into the failure will be reviewed along a host of other presentations on the preparation of shuttle components for flight.
NASA will hold a news conference at the conclusion of the readiness review. The time is still TBD.
Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Operations, Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach will take part in the briefing.
IMAGE NOTE: Click to enlarge the NASA image of shuttle Atlantis after its rollout to launch pad 39A. You can also click the enlarged image to get an even bigger, more detailed view. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
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