KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the white room on Launch Pad 39A, Mission STS-117 Mission Specialist Danny Olivas is helped with his gear before entering Space Shuttle Atlantis. The STS-117 crew practices for launch with a simulation of activities, from suit-up to countdown in the orbiter during terminal countdown demonstration test activities. The STS-117 mission is No. 21 to the International Space Station. Mission payloads aboard Atlantis include the S3/S4 integrated truss structure, a third set of solar arrays and batteries. The crew of six astronauts will install the truss to continue assembly of the station. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than March 15. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the white room on Launch Pad 39A, Mission STS-117 Mission Specialist James Reilly is helped with his gear before entering Space Shuttle Atlantis. The STS-117 crew practices for launch with a simulation of activities, from suit-up to countdown in the orbiter during terminal countdown demonstration test activities. The STS-117 mission is No. 21 to the International Space Station. Mission payloads aboard Atlantis include the S3/S4 integrated truss structure, a third set of solar arrays and batteries. The crew of six astronauts will install the truss to continue assembly of the station. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than March 15. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the white room on Launch Pad 39A, Mission STS-117 Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester prepares to enter Space Shuttle Atlantis. The STS-117 crew practices for launch with a simulation of activities, from suit-up to countdown in the orbiter during terminal countdown demonstration test activities. The STS-117 mission is No. 21 to the International Space Station. Mission payloads aboard Atlantis include the S3/S4 integrated truss structure, a third set of solar arrays and batteries. The crew of six astronauts will install the truss to continue assembly of the station. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than March 15. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the white room on Launch Pad 39A, Mission STS-117 Mission Specialist Steven Swanson is helped with his gear before entering Space Shuttle Atlantis. The STS-117 crew practices for launch with a simulation of activities, from suit-up to countdown in the orbiter during terminal countdown demonstration test activities. The STS-117 mission is No. 21 to the International Space Station. Mission payloads aboard Atlantis include the S3/S4 integrated truss structure, a third set of solar arrays and batteries. The crew of six astronauts will install the truss to continue assembly of the station. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than March 15. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the white room on Launch Pad 39A, Mission STS-117 Pilot Lee Archambault prepares to enter Space Shuttle Atlantis. The STS-117 crew practices for launch with a simulation of activities, from suit-up to countdown in the orbiter during terminal countdown demonstration test activities. The STS-117 mission is No. 21 to the International Space Station. Mission payloads aboard Atlantis include the S3/S4 integrated truss structure, a third set of solar arrays and batteries. The crew of six astronauts will install the truss to continue assembly of the station. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than March 15. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the white room on Launch Pad 39A, Mission STS-117 Commander Rick Sturckow gives a thumbs up as he prepares to enter Space Shuttle Atlantis. The STS-117 crew practices for launch with a simulation of activities, from suit-up to countdown in the orbiter during terminal countdown demonstration test activities. The STS-117 mission is No. 21 to the International Space Station. Mission payloads aboard Atlantis include the S3/S4 integrated truss structure, a third set of solar arrays and batteries. The crew of six astronauts will install the truss to continue assembly of the station. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than March 15. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A, STS-117 Mission Specialist Steven Swanson is helped by the closeout crew to secure his launch suit before climbing into Space Shuttle Atlantis. Behind Swanson is astronaut Clayton Anderson, waiting his turn. Anderson is joining the Expedition 15 crew on the International Space Station; Flight Engineer Suni Williams will return to Earth in his place. The mission to the space station is scheduled to launch at 7:38 p.m. EDT. Members of the closeout crew help the astronauts don a parachute pack, strap them into the space shuttle's crew module and take care of any other last-minute needs that arise. The White Room is at the end of the orbiter access arm that extends from the fixed service structure and provides entry into the orbiter. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the space station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Don Kight

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Following rollback of the rotating service structure, or RSS, on Launch Pad 39A, Space Shuttle Atlantis stands bathed in lights atop a mobile launch platform. Rollback is one of the milestones in preparation for the launch of mission STS-117 on June 8. Rollback started at 10:56 p.m. and was complete at 11:34 p.m EDT. The RSS provides protected access to the orbiter for changeout and servicing of payloads at the pad. Connecting the RSS to the cockpit of the shuttle is the orbiter access arm with the White Room extended. The White Room provides access into the orbiter for the astronauts. This mission is the 118th shuttle flight and the 21st U.S. flight to the International Space Station and will deliver and install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A, astronaut Clayton Anderson is helped by the closeout crew to secure his launch suit before climbing into Space Shuttle Atlantis. Anderson is flying to the International Space Station with the STS-117 crew to join the Expedition 15 crew on the space station. Flight Engineer Suni Williams will return to Earth in his place. The mission to the space station is scheduled to launch at 7:38 p.m. EDT. Members of the closeout crew help the astronauts don a parachute pack, strap them into the space shuttle's crew module and take care of any other last-minute needs that arise. The White Room is at the end of the orbiter access arm that extends from the fixed service structure and provides entry into the orbiter. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the space station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Don Kight

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A, STS-117 Mission Specialist John "Danny" Olivas is helped by the closeout crew to secure his launch suit before climbing into Space Shuttle Atlantis. Behind Olivas is Pilot Lee Archambault. The mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch at 7:38 p.m. EDT. Members of the closeout crew help the astronauts don a parachute pack, strap them into the space shuttle's crew module and take care of any other last-minute needs that arise. The White Room is at the end of the orbiter access arm that extends from the fixed service structure and provides entry into the orbiter. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the space station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Don Kight

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A, members of the closeout crew help STS-117 Mission Specialist James Reilly secure his launch suit before climbing into Space Shuttle Atlantis. The mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch at 7:38 p.m. EDT. Members of the closeout crew help the astronauts don a parachute pack, strap them into the space shuttle's crew module and take care of any other last-minute needs that arise. The White Room is at the end of the orbiter access arm that extends from the fixed service structure and provides entry into the orbiter. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the space station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Don Kight

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-117 Pilot Lee Archambault is helped by the closeout crew in the White Room to secure his launch suit before climbing into Space Shuttle Atlantis. The mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch at 7:38 p.m. EDT. Members of the closeout crew help the astronauts don a parachute pack, strap them into the space shuttle's crew module and take care of any other last-minute needs that arise. The White Room is at the end of the orbiter access arm that extends from the fixed service structure and provides entry into the orbiter. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the space station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Don Kight

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-117 Commander Frederick Sturckow is helped by the closeout crew in the White Room on Launch Pad 39A to secure his launch suit before climbing into Space Shuttle Atlantis. The mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch at 7:38 p.m. EDT. Members of the Closeout Crew help the astronauts don a parachute pack, strap them into the space shuttle's crew module and take care of any other last-minute needs that arise. The White Room is at the end of the orbiter access arm that extends from the fixed service structure and provides entry into the orbiter. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the space station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Don Kight

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities, the Mission STS-117 crew members participate in an emergency egress walkdown at Launch Pad 39A. On the 195-foot level of the fixed service structure inside the white room are Mission Specialist Steven Swanson (kneeling), and standing from left, Pilot Lee Archambault, Commander Rick Sturckow, and Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester, Danny Olivas and James Reilly. The TCDT also includes M-113 armored personnel carrier training, and a simulated launch countdown. The mission payload aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis is the S3/S4 integrated truss structure, along with a third set of solar arrays and batteries. The crew of six astronauts will install the truss to continue assembly of the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A, members of the closeout crew help STS-117Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester secure his equipment before climbing into Space Shuttle Atlantis. The mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch at 7:38 p.m. EDT. Members of the closeout crew help the astronauts don a parachute pack, strap them into the space shuttle's crew module and take care of any other last-minute needs that arise. The White Room is at the end of the orbiter access arm that extends from the fixed service structure and provides entry into the orbiter. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the space station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Don Kight

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Following rollback of the rotating service structure, or RSS, on Launch Pad 39A, Space Shuttle Atlantis stands bathed in lights atop a mobile launch platform. Rollback is one of the milestones in preparation for the launch of mission STS-117 on June 8. Rollback started at 10:56 p.m. and was complete at 11:34 p.m EDT. The RSS provides protected access to the orbiter for changeout and servicing of payloads at the pad. Connecting the RSS to the cockpit of the shuttle is the orbiter access arm with the White Room extended. The White Room provides access into the orbiter for the astronauts. Above the external tank is the vent hood (known as the "beanie cap") at the end of the gaseous oxygen vent arm. Vapors are created as the liquid oxygen in the external tank boil off. The hood vents the gaseous oxygen vapors away from the space shuttle vehicle. This mission is the 118th shuttle flight and the 21st U.S. flight to the International Space Station and will deliver and install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A fish-eye view captures Space Shuttle Atlantis at liftoff from Launch Pad 39A as twin columns of fire propel it toward the sky. Smoke is pouring from the flame trench below (lower right), between the tail service masts and beyond the service structure. On the left of the orbiter's wing is the White Room, which provides access into the orbiter for the astronauts and swings away before final countdown. Liftoff of Atlantis on mission STS-117 to the International Space Station was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo Credit: NASA/Rick Wetherington & Tony Gray