Space Shuttle Atlantis Returns to Launch Pad

The space shuttle Atlantis finally returned to the launch pad late this morning, NASA reports. The shuttle is being readied for an early June flight to the International Space Station (ISS).

A scheduled March launch of Atlantis was delayed by a severe Florida hail storm that bludgeoned the enormous external fuel tank. The Feb. 26 storm produced hail the size of golf balls which pummeled the tank, leaving its insulating foam covered with thousands of dings and dents.

Following the storm, NASA managers ordered Atlantis back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center for repairs. During the past 2 1/2 months, workers have repaired the tank by spraying and hand-pouring new insulating foam onto the tanks, as well as sanding out some areas. The work to repair the hail damage to the tank was very evident as the shuttle was rolled out to launch pad 39A earlier today. The bright orange tank was covered with hundreds of white speckles on the top portion of the tank.

Atlantis' 3.4-mile trip began a little after 5:00 a.m. EST this morning aboard the enormous, slow-moving, crawler vehicle. The journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to pad 39A took just under seven hours to complete.

A flight readiness review will be conducted by NASA on May 30-31. The shuttle Atlantis and the crew of flight STS-117 could launch as early as June 8, which will be the first shuttle mission of 2007. If the Atlantis mission is able to launch on schedule, the shuttle Endeavor will lift off in early August, followed by Discovery in late October. The repair work to Atlantis' fuel tank has set NASA back nearly three months in its race to complete the construction of the ISS before the shuttle fleet is retired in 2010.

NASA external tank project manager John Chapman, said that while the tank will have a speckled appearance, that will in no way affect safety or performance.