Space Shuttle Atlantis, surrounded by service platforms in highbay 1 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, continues to undergo inspection for hail damage. Special scaffolding and access platforms have been erected to allow for the mapping and inspection of the external fuel tank. Repair methods and criteria are also being developed.

Repairs to the orbiter thermal protection system tiles are nearly complete and technicians are preparing to conduct non-destructive evaluation of the vehicle's reinforced carbon carbon panels on the left wing leading edge using thermography equipment.

Shuttle Program managers plan to meet next week to assess the damage and repair status to the external tank.

Mission STS-117 to the International Space Station will be scheduled sometime after a Russian Soyuz spacecraft returns from the station. The Soyuz is delivering new station crew members and returning others to Earth in late April. Adequate time is needed between the Soyuz undocking and the shuttle's arrival to the station.

During the 11-day mission, the six-member crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties.

Atlantis Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and Mission Specialists Jim Reilly, Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson and John "Danny" Olivas will continue training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston as they await a new target launch date.

FMI: www.nasa.gov