Orbiter Atlantis At Pad For Final Shuttle Launch

Shuttle Atlantis settled in at its Kennedy Space Center launch pad today in advance of NASA's final shuttle flight, arriving a little less than an hour after Endeavour landed five miles to the west, winding up that orbiter's 25th and final flight.

In what amounted to a historic double-header, Atlantis started rolling up onto its launch pedestal at pad 39A just about the same time Endeavour rolled to a stop on Runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility. The shuttle was "hard-down" on the pad at 3:29 a.m.

Endeavour landed 2:35 a.m., capping a 6.5-million-mile mission.

Atlantis departed the KSC Vehicle Assembly Building at 8:42 p.m. -- 42 minutes later than planned. A hydraulic system seal leak prompted the delay. Atlantis completed the 3.5-mile trip in a little less than six hours.

Atlantis and four astronauts are scheduled to launch at 11:38 a.m. July 8 on a two-week supply run to the International Space Station. The mission will be the 33rd for Atlantis and the 135th and final flight for the shuttle program.