June 8: NASA launches Atlantis shuttle

After weeks of delays, NASA decided to launch the Atlantis space shuttle on June 8 to perform its duties at the International Space Station (ISS).

Officials from the US Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) claim Atlantis will be launched at 7: 38 minutes (ET time) on June 8, at the Kennedy Space Center. , state of Florida. Atlantis space shuttle will provide new equipment for ISS, including a pair of solar panels.

The crew of 7 will arrive at ISS on the space shuttle Atlantis.(Photo: NASA)

The launch of Atlantis should have been carried out in mid-March, but was postponed to repair the damage to the ship's fuel tank due to the hail on February 26. After a period of positive repair, NASA is confident that Atlantis is currently in a state of readiness to be launched into space. NASA officials confirmed that the Atlantis fuel tank is now safe to use.

Since the shuttle Columbia was destroyed with the death of seven astronauts in 2003, the discovery and repair of defects or damage to the shuttle is a top concern for NASA.

Wayne Hale, NASA Space Shuttle Program Manager, said: 'We are now ready to launch Atlantis. We did not encounter any obstacles. '

Atlantis will be controlled by a 7-person crew: Rick Sturckow (commander); Lee Archambault (pilot); Clayton Anderson (engineer) and 4 experts. Mr. Anderson will replace Mr. Sunita Williams on the ISS Station, and Mr. Williams will return to Earth with the Atlantis after 8 months of work on the Station.

Due to the postponement of Atlantis launch, NASA said it would have to cut the shuttle launch program in 2007 from 5 times to 4 times.

Under the plan, NASA will have to carry out at least 13 shuttle flights to complete the construction of the ISS Station from now until 2010 - the time of the space shuttle's shutdown.

ISS is a project worth about 100 billion USD with the participation of 16 countries around the world.

Atlantis is ready to be launched on June 8, 2007.
(Photo: NASA)

Minh Quang