Mission Specialist Yuri I. Malenchenko signals thumbs up for launch during suitup in the Operations and Checkout Building.

STS-106 Mission Specialist Yuri I. Malenchenko signals thumbs up for launch during suitup in the Operations and Checkout Building. This is Malenchenko’s first Shuttle flight. Space Shuttle Atlantis is set to lift off 8:45 a.m. EDT on the fourth flight to the International Space Station. During the 11-day mission, the seven-member crew will perform support tasks on orbit, transfer supplies and prepare the living quarters in the newly arrived Zvezda Service Module. The first long-duration crew, dubbed “Expedition One,” is due to arrive at the Station in late fall. Malenchenko, who is with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, will perform a space walk along with Mission Specialist Edward T. Lu to connect electrical lines and data cables from Zvezda to the rest of the Station. Atlantis is scheduled to land at KSC Sept. 19 at 4:59 a.m. EDT