Successful launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis
[[Image:STS-115 Launch.jpg|left|thumb|The launch of STS-115]]
{{NASA-Atlantis_Infobox}}
{{date|September 9, 2006}}

[[W:OV-104|Space Shuttle Atlantis]] successfully launched this morning after 4 years of inactivity. Liftoff, from [[w:LC-39|Launch Complex 39B]] at the [[W:Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy Space Center]] occurred at 15:14:55 GMT, with the spacecraft reaching orbit about 8 1/2 minutes later. Television coverage included a live camera on the external fuel tank that remained on after separation.

Early indications suggest that there was no serious damage caused by foam debris, which was responsible for the [[w:Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster|loss]] of the [[W:OV-102|Space Shuttle Columbia]] in February 2003.

The mission marks the resumption of the [[W:International Space Station|International Space Station]] assembly program, which began in 1998, but was halted after the Columbia disaster. The Shuttle, which is crewed  by six astronauts, will install a [[w:ISS Truss|truss]] section and solar panels at the space station.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-09-09T161038Z_01_B405032_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPACE-SHUTTLE.xml&archived=False
|title=Space shuttle finally lifts off from Florida
|author=Irene Klotz
|pub=Reuters
|date=September 9, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://science.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1199652.php/Atlantis_space_shuttle_blasts_off_from_Cape_Canaveral
|title=Atlantis space shuttle blasts off from Cape Canaveral
|author=
|pub=Monsters and Critics
|date=September 9, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/060909_sts115_launchday.html
|title=Liftoff! Space Shuttle Atlantis Launches on ISS Construction Mission
|author=Tariq Malik
|pub=Space.com
|date=September 9, 2006}}

== External links ==

*[http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/sts115_front/index.html STS-115 Atlantis NASA homepage]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ-F1cA_Vpg&mode=related&search= Footage of the launch]

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[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:NASA]]
[[Category:International Space Station]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle Atlantis]]

[[fr:La navette Atlantis lancée avec succès]]
[[ja:スペースシャトル「アトランティス」打ち上げ、国際宇宙ステーション建設が3年半ぶりに再開]]
[[pl:Atlantis szczęśliwie poleciał w kosmos]]
The launch of STS-115

Space Shuttle Atlantis successfully launched this morning after 4 years of inactivity. Liftoff, from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center occurred at 15:14:55 GMT, with the spacecraft reaching orbit about 8 1/2 minutes later. Television coverage included a live camera on the external fuel tank that remained on after separation.

Early indications suggest that there was no serious damage caused by foam debris, which was responsible for the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia in February 2003.

The mission marks the resumption of the International Space Station assembly program, which began in 1998, but was halted after the Columbia disaster. The Shuttle, which is crewed  by six astronauts, will install a truss section and solar panels at the space station.

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Space Science and technology United States North America NASA International Space Station Space Shuttle Atlantis