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 20 July 2008 18:20 BST

Atlantis heads for ISS

Saturday, 09 Jun 2007 11:31
Onlookers witness Atlantis' successful launch

Science In Focus 

Nasa's Atlantis shuttle has begun its 11-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) after a routine launch.

The shuttle took off in ideal weather conditions at the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, Florida, last night at 19:38 local time (00:38 BST today).

Prior to lift off, Commander Rick Sturckow thanked ground crews before saying: "See you in a couple of weeks."

Once Atlantis arrives at the ISS its seven-strong crew will begin fixing new structural components to the station.

New solar array sets are among the modifications, which will enable the space station to track the sun during orbit.

The continued installation of the ISS' backbone will build-upon the work done in Atlantis' previous two missions ahead of the arrival of new science modules from European and Japanese space agencies.

This latest mission will also see astronaut Clayton Anderson join the ISS, while Sunita Williams will return to Earth with the rest of the Atlantis crew.

Last night's launch had originally been planned for March, but foam insulation damaged by hailstorms forced Nasa to delay the mission.End of story


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