Space Shuttle Atlantis Given Green Light for Blast Off

Mission STS-117 is the Space Shuttle Program's 21st mission to the International Space Station.

Reflected in the water of the Banana River at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Space Shuttle Atlantis sits on Launch Pad 39A. Photo Credit: NASA/Ken Thornsley

(CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla) - Following the Flight Readiness Review meetings at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's senior managers have signed the Certification of Flight Readiness confirming that Space Shuttle Atlantis, her flight crew and payloads are fit to fly.

This weekend, Atlantis' main engines, orbital maneuvering system and forward reaction control system will be pressurized for flight.

Orbiter testing and processing is under way, with stowage of flight crew equipment progressing in preparation for a scheduled June 8th launch.

Rick Sturckow will command the mission and Lee Archambault will serve as Atlantis' pilot.

Mission Specialists James Reilly, Steven Swanson, John Olivas and Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson round out the crew to deliver the S3/S4 starboard truss segments, batteries and another pair of solar arrays to the space station.

Anderson will replace Expedition 15 Flight Engineer Sunita Williams on station and Williams will return to Earth aboard Atlantis.

Mission STS-117 is the Space Shuttle Program's 21st mission to the International Space Station.