Image above: With the tracks of the crawler transporter visible in the foreground, Space Shuttle Atlantis is in position at Launch Pad 39B for lift off of mission STS-115 to the International Space Photo Station. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

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Ham radio pair on Atlantis flight

Atlantis' slow, 4.2-mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the pad began at 1:05am Wednesday

Riding atop the mobile launch platform and carried by the crawler transporter, the orbiter is attached to its external tank, flanked by two solid rocket boosters. At the pad, the vehicle will be enclosed by the rotating service structure during its preparation for launch.

From there the payload for the mission will be loaded into the cargo bay. The launch window for this mission to resume construction of the International Space Station opens August 27th.

Astronaut Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper KD5TVR

The STS-115 crew - which includes two radio amateurs - consists of Commander Brent W. Jett, Jr., Pilot Christopher J. Ferguson and Mission Specialists Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper KD5TVR, Joseph R. Tanner, Daniel C. Burbank KC5ZSX and Steven G. MacLean, who represents the Canadian Space Agency.

During their 11 days in space, the astronauts will install the integrated P3/P4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays that will provide one-fourth of the total power generation capability of the completed station.

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