The six astronauts were expected to touch down at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility runway about 7 p.m. EDT Monday and spend the next few days in training.

At Launch Pad 39A, technicians were performing vertical closeouts Monday for Atlantis and its payload: an Integrated Cargo Carrier and a Russian-built Mini Research Module. The cargo is to be delivered to the International Space Station during the 12-day STS-132 mission.

The countdown clocks at the space center will begin operating Tuesday afternoon following a traditional call-to-stations for launch controllers. Only two more shuttle missions are scheduled after Atlantis's flight before the fleet is retired.

Launch is scheduled for Friday at 2:20 p.m. EDT.

earlier related report
NASA offers space shuttle training program
Washington (UPI) May 10, 2010 - NASA says it's offering space shuttle training software that students in grades 6-10 can use to simulate launching a shuttle from the classroom.

The program is designed to help students develop science, engineering, technology and math skills.

The space agency said the new computer simulation program will allow students to take on the roles of NASA engineers and launch a shuttle from their own classrooms.

"The program is based on software used for training at the shuttle Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida," the space agency said. "The 'Kennedy Launch Academy Simulation System,' or KLASS, gives students the chance to monitor important shuttle systems during a launch countdown and decide whether they are 'go' for liftoff. They will work together as a team and learn about the different responsibilities behind the scenes of a shuttle launch."

In addition to the launch simulation software, KLASS offers 40 hours of lesson plans and interactive resources for teachers. The materials can be used for one-day lessons or one-year curriculums.

The software and teaching materials are available at http://www.nasa.gov/education/klass.

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