21 June 2007
On 20 June 2007, Space Shuttle Atlantis crew prepared for landing in Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. There were two opportunities for landing on 21 June.
Landing preparations include stowing equipment and checking out systems that will be operated to deorbit Atlantis and begin the glide to Earth. Also, the seven crew members took time out of their schedules to talk to reporters from renowned news agencies.
On 21 June, the first landing opportunity was available on Orbit 202, which call for the deorbit burn to occur 16:50 GMT, with a 17:55 GMT touchdown. The last opportunity of the day will be on the next orbit. It begins with the deorbit burn at 18:25 GMT and ends with a 19:30 GMT landing.
Weather forecasts consider a possibility of thunder showers in the landing area. Flight controllers and forecasters with the Spaceflight Meteorology Group to monitor the weather at KSC.
The 13-day space shuttle mission, designated STS-117, was a construction mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Crewmembers installed the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment and performed four spacewalks to activate it.
Atlantis also transported a new ISS crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a spacewoman. She arrived at the station in December with space shuttle mission STS-116.
Further Reading
NASA
www.nasa.gov/
Aymen Mohamed Ibrahem