Workers check the crane that will begin raising Space Shuttle Atlantis to a vertical position in the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Workers check the crane that will begin raising Space Shuttle Atlantis to a vertical position in the Vehicle Assembly Building. Once in position, it will be mated with its external tank and solid rocket boosters before being transported to Launch Pad 39A. Atlantis will fly on mission STS-101 to the International Space Station, where its crew of seven will prepare the Station for the arrival of the next pressurized module, the Russian-built Zvezda. Atlantis is expected to launch no earlier than April 17, 2000