WASHINGTON (nasa) – The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis is set to take off later Thursday, carrying a crew of seven and hardware to expand the international space station.
The astronauts will install the first section of a long girder that will hold life support and power-generating equipment. The truss will eventually extend more than 100-meters and support almost one-half hectare of solar-power panels and radiators.
The truss will also be the initial track for what NASA is calling the first railroad in space. A railcar that will ultimately carry the station’s Canadian-built mechanical arm along the length of the station will also be attached during the mission.
NASA announced Thursday’s launch time of a few minutes after 2200 universal time just 24 hours in advance as part of the space agency’s anti-terrorism plan.
The precise lift-off time was withheld until 24 hours before the departure – the first time in more than two decades of shuttle flights the agency has kept secret the launch time of a non-military mission.
NASA officials say there is a 40 percent chance that weather could force a delay in the launch.
