Space Shuttle Launch Set for Wednesday
July 11, 2005
The countdown was under way Monday toward the first space shuttle launch since the Columbia disaster in 2003.
The clock started at Sunday evening, with NASA aiming for a 3:51 p.m. EDT Wednesday lift-off.
Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters predicted a 70-percent probability that Wednesday’s weather conditions will allow the launch. But National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials noted that in the event of a delay, the forecast deteriorates to a 60 percent probability of acceptable launch conditions Thursday and Friday.
The Discovery’s crew arrived at the space center Saturday evening — a day earlier than scheduled to avoid dangerous travel conditions produced by Hurricane Dennis.