spacetoday.net: Shuttle practice countdown begins today

Shuttle practice countdown begins today

Posted: Wed, Jun 14, 2006, 8:01 AM ET (1201 GMT)

The crew of the next shuttle mission arrived in Florida yesterday, one day later than planned, for a practice countdown in advance of next month's launch. The STS-121 crew flew into the Kennedy Space Center yesterday in a single Gulfstream jet rather than a group of T-38 trainers because of poor weather conditions associated with Tropical Storm Alberto; the same storm caused the crew to postpone their trip to Florida a day. The crew will begin a two-day practice countdown today at the space center as part of their final preparation for the mission. NASA officials plan to announce Saturday the launch date for the STS-121 mission; the launch window runs from July 1-19.