Thursday, August 17 2006 12:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The US space agency NASA has after two days of safety inspections given the go-ahead for the launch of space shuttle Atlantis.

The shuttle is now slated to launch Aug 27 at 4.30 p.m. (2030 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

NASA is hoping to restart construction of the half-built ISS after a four-year hiatus following the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster, which grounded the US fleet.

The space agency is planning 16 missions through 2010 to complete the ISS, before the US' ageing shuttle fleet is retired for good.