STS-121 countdown begins
Posted: Thu, Jun 29, 2006, 12:56 PM ET (1656 GMT)
The countdown for Saturday's launch of the shuttle Discovery started Wednesday, with potential stormy weather the only major issue facing shuttle managers. NASA started the countdown at 5 pm EDT (2100 GMT) Wednesday in advance of the launch, scheduled for 3:48 pm EDT (1948 GMT) Saturday, July 1. Shuttle officials reported no technical issues that could delay the launch. The main concern is the weather, with forecasts calling for a 60 percent chance of unacceptable weather at the scheduled liftoff time. The mission is the first in nearly a year for the shuttle and only the second since the Columbia accident in 2003. STS-121 will bring supplies to the station; drop off one member of the ISS crew, European astronaut Thomas Reiter; and test ways to inspect and repair any damage suffered by foam impacts on shuttle tiles and panels during launch.
The countdown for Saturday's launch of the shuttle Discovery started Wednesday, with potential stormy weather the only major issue facing shuttle managers. NASA started the countdown at 5 pm EDT (2100 GMT) Wednesday in advance of the launch, scheduled for 3:48 pm EDT (1948 GMT) Saturday, July 1. Shuttle officials reported no technical issues that could delay the launch. The main concern is the weather, with forecasts calling for a 60 percent chance of unacceptable weather at the scheduled liftoff time. The mission is the first in nearly a year for the shuttle and only the second since the Columbia accident in 2003. STS-121 will bring supplies to the station; drop off one member of the ISS crew, European astronaut Thomas Reiter; and test ways to inspect and repair any damage suffered by foam impacts on shuttle tiles and panels during launch.
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