STS-122 ready to launch

Space shuttle Atlantis is set to begin its launch countdown for the STS-122 mission with a flurry of activities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Atlantis is scheduled to launch at 4:31 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec. 6.

STS-122 TIMELINE
Flight Day 1

• Atlantis launches from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida
• Open payloads bay doors
  
• Power up shuttle's robot arm
  

Flight Day 2

• Inspect orbiter's heat shield using robot arm with boom
• Configure shuttle for docking to International Space Station
• Check spacesuit

Flight Day 3

• Atlantis perform backflip, or rendezvous pitch maneuver
• Station crew autographs Atlantis
• Atlantis docks at Space Station
  

Flight Day 4

• Astronaut Walheim and Schlegel make first spacewalk
  
• Columbus module attached to Harmony node of International Space Station

Flight Day 5

• Focused inspection of Atlantis's heat shield (if necessary)
• Astronaut enter Columbus module

Flight Day 6

• Walheim and Schlegel make second spacewalk
• Columbus module outfitting
  

Flight Day 7

• Columbus module outfitting
  
• Crew off-duty time

Flight Day 8

• Walheim and Love make third spacewalk, install station components, remove faulty gyro

Flight Day 9

• Cargo tranfers
• Join news conference
  
• Columbus module outfitting

Flight Day 10

• Atlantis undocks and flies around International Space Station
• Late inspection of Atlantis's heat shield

Flight Day 11

• Crew prepares for landing

Flight Day 12

• Deorbit burn
• Atlantis lands at Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Source: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html