NASA preps for final shuttle launch

NASA picked up a practice countdown at Kennedy Space Center this morning as the agency pressed ahead with preparations for the planned Nov. 16 launch of Atlantis and six astronauts on an International Space Station outfitting mission. Atlantis and a crew led by veteran shuttle pilot Charlie Hobaugh are slated to blast off at 2:28 p.m. Nov. 16, hauling up a payload that includes two $30 million logistics carriers, an ammonia tank assembly, a nitrogen tank assembly, a dome-shaped gyroscope, a spare "hand" for the station's robotic arm and a variety of other large spares. More

(Source: USA Today - Nov 3)