STS-115 : ATLANTIS
NASA Watches Ernesto for Tuesday Launch
NASA is pressing ahead with preparations for a possible launch of the shuttle Atlantis at 3:41 p.m. EDT Tuesday. Managers are monitoring Tropical Storm Ernesto and expect to make a decision tomorrow on whether to roll Atlantis back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for protection. Meanwhile, engineers have now cleared any concerns about a lightning strike at the launch pad Friday.
Commander Brent Jett and his five crewmates will travel to the International Space Station to install a new 17-ton segment of the station's truss backbone, adding a new set of giant solar panels and batteries to the complex. Three spacewalks are planned.