The space shuttle Atlantis' huge center fuel tank is being loaded with some 535,000 gallons of fuel this hour in preparation for her launch this afternoon to begin a twelve day mission to Earth's orbital outpost.
Super cold liquid oxygen followed by liquid hydrogen fuels began loading into the rust colored external fuel tank at 4:55 am EDT this morning.
It is the mixture of the two hypergolic fuels which power the orbiter's three main engines for eight and one-half minutes.
Lift-off of Atlantis on her final planned space voyage is targeted for 2:20:09 pm today, from launch pad 39-A here at the Kennedy Space Center.
The six crew members awoke earlier to begin their launch day activities which will see them depart for the launch pad at 10:30 am.
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