ISS Readies For Columbus Lab

As NASA wrapped up last-minute repairs on the external fuel tank, seven astronauts arrived Monday at Cape Canaveral for this week's scheduled launch of the space shuttle Atlantis.

Minor damage to the troublesome insulating foam on the 15-story tank was discovered Friday, according to CNN. NASA officials said they didn't know how or when the damage occurred.

Patches were applied to the damaged areas. Though each takes 16 hours to cure, that's still in plenty of time to beat the Thursday launch, according to NASA test director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson.

NASA states the foam patches should pose no threat to Atlantis during its launch. Foam falling from Columbia in 2003 led to the loss of that orbiter on reentry, and has been an ongoing nuisance on other liftoffs.

The launch countdown for Atlantis began Monday night. The mission will transport the Columbus laboratory ready for the international space station.

Weather for the launch is forecast to be good. "We hope it stays like this all week long," commander Stephen Frick said, standing under the clear azure-colored Florida sky.

Astronaut Leopold Eyharts, a Frenchman, is scheduled to switch quarters to the space station for several months to ready the Columbus science lab for research.

"As I will be probably gone for a while, I would like to wish you all merry Christmas and a happy new year," Eyharts said. "See you in 2008."

This launch marks the fourth shuttle launch this year to the space station.

As ANN has reported, the three crewmembers now onboard the space station have worked continually since Discovery returned to earth a month ago. The trio appeared pleased with their progress Monday, as they finalized preparation for the arrival of Atlantis and the Columbus lab.

"If they launch this week, then I'll be home by Christmas," said astronaut Daniel Tani. Eyharts will replace Tani who will return to Earth on Atlantis.

FMI: www.nasa.gov