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NASA'S Space Shuttle Atlantis Rolls Off Launch Pad Monday

Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll back from Launch Pad 39A to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Oct. 20, to await launch on its mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. First motion of the shuttle is scheduled for 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Atlantis' targeted launch on Oct. 10 was delayed when a system that transfers science data from the orbiting observatory to Earth malfunctioned on Sept. 27. The new target launch date is under review.

The fully assembled space shuttle Atlantis, consisting of the orbiter, external tank and twin solid rocket boosters, is mounted on a Mobile Launcher Platform and will be delivered to the Vehicle Assembly Building atop a crawler transporter. The crawler will travel slower than 1 mph during the 3.4-mile journey, which is expected to take approximately six hours.

NASA Television will provide live coverage of Atlantis' rollback beginning Monday at 6:30 a.m. Video highlights of the rollback will air on NASA TV Video File.

Media are invited to a photo opportunity of the shuttle's move from the pad at 6 a.m. Monday. As dates and times of this event are subject to change, updates are available by calling 321-867-2525.

Media must arrive at Kennedy's News Center by 5 a.m. for transportation to the viewing area. Foreign news media accreditation for this event is closed. U.S. media without permanent Kennedy Space Center credentials must apply for accreditation online by 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Badges may be picked up between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 at the Kennedy Badging Office on State Road 405, west of Gate 3, just past the Kennedy Visitor's Complex.

The next space shuttle flight will be shuttle Endeavour's STS-126 mission to the International Space Station, targeted for launch Nov. 14. Endeavour is scheduled to move from Launch Pad 39B to Pad 39A on Oct. 25.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about upcoming shuttle missions, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Source: NASA