Space Shuttle Atlantis Now Closer to Home

Space shuttle Atlantis is one step closer to arriving at the Kennedy Space Center after a Monday refueling stop at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Mounted on top of a modified 747 jetliner called the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, Atlantis is en route back to Florida after landing June 22 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., ending its STS-117 mission to the International Space Station.

The California landing was necessitated by unacceptable weather conditions in Florida.

At Fort Campbell, the ferry flight crew received a weather briefing and decided to remain there Monday. Atlantis could arrive at the Florida spaceport Tuesday if weather conditions permit.

Space center workers, however, were busy Monday preparing space shuttle Endeavour for STS-118, due for launch Aug. 7.

Endeavour arrived inside the Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building Monday after a short roll from the nearby Orbiter Processing Facility. In the assembly building, Endeavour will be attached to its external tank and solid rocket boosters.