Posted: Thu, Aug 9, 2001, 7:35 PM ET (2335 GMT)
NASA delayed Thursday's launch of the shuttle Discovery on mission STS-105 by a day after clouds and thunderstorms approached the launch site. The countdown for the launch, scheduled for 5:37 pm EDT (2137 GMT), was stopped at the T-9 minute mark when it became clear to launch controllers that weather would not permit a launch Thursday afternoon. The launch has been rescheduled for Friday at 5:15 pm EDT (2115 GMT), in the middle of a 10-minute launch window. However, forecasters are calling for a 70 percent chance of unacceptable weather, primarily because of the threat of afternoon thunderstorms. When launched, Discovery will perform a 12-day mission to the International Space Station, arriving with the new three-man Expedition Three crew and returning with the Expedition Two crew that has been on the station since March.
