NASA’s Atlantis space shuttle is being prepared for lift-off today. Image: NASA/Troy Cryder.

NASA’s Atlantis space shuttle is scheduled to lift off today (16 November) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a mission to deliver parts to the International Space Station (ISS).

The US space agency announced yesterday that the space shuttle and its crew members were poised for launch and lift-off is expected to happen today at 1928 GMT (1428 EST).

NASA Test Director Steve Payne said: “After many, many months of hard work, STS-129 Atlantis and her crew are nearly ready to fly.

“We’ve had a clean countdown to date and are currently on schedule with no problems to report.”

Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters also announced that the weather conditions look positive for both the fuelling and take-off.

The STS-129 mission to the ISS is the 31st flight to the station and will be the sixth last space shuttle launch before NASA retires the fleet in 2010.

Atlantis mission will deliver parts to the space station, including a spare gyroscope, and return station crew member Nicole Stott to Earth after almost three months on the ISS.

Three spacewalks will also be completed during the 11 day mission.

The Atlantis space shuttle will be captained by Charlie Hobaugh, with Barry Wilmore as pilot for the all-male crew.