NASA Says Shuttle is Ready
Friday, October 30, 2009
By: Tom Parkinson

NASA says the shuttle Atlantis is set to go back into space. The shuttle is set to lift off on November 16th to begin an eleven day flight to the International Space Station. The launch date was announced after a flight readiness review at the Kennedy Space Center. NASA managers determined the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready. The flight will be Atlantis' 31st mission. It will include three spacewalks and astronauts will install hardware on the station to help sustain operations after the shuttle fleet is retired. The shuttle's final mission is scheduled for next September. Astronaut Nicole Stott will return home with the Atlantis crew after living on the space station for more than two months. The November 16th target date could change depending on the planned launch of an Atlas V rocket from nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on November 14th. If the Atlas launch is delayed, the shuttle's liftoff will also be moved ahead.