Posted: Tue, May 15, 2007, 8:40 PM ET (0040 GMT)
NASA moved the space shuttle Atlantis to the launch pad early Tuesday, one day ahead of schedule, in preparation for its launch next month. Atlantis, attached to its repaired external tank and solid rocket boosters, left the Vehicle Assembly Building just after 5 am EDT (0900 GMT), arriving at Launch Pad 39A shortly before noon EDT (1600 GMT). The rollout was planned for Wednesday, but was moved up a day after workers were able to complete preparatory work for the rollout early. Atlantis is scheduled to lift off on mission STS-117 no earlier than June 8 on an ISS assembly mission. The launch was planned for mid-March but delayed after the insulation on the shuttle's external tank suffered damage on the pad during a freak hailstorm in late February.

Related Links:

•  SPACE.com article
•  Reuters article
•  NASA SpaceFlight.com article
•  AP article
•  NASA press release