spacetoday.net: Shuttle launch delayed a day

Posted: Sat, Aug 26, 2006, 5:25 PM ET (2125 GMT)

NASA announced Saturday afternoon that it was delaying the launch of the shuttle Atlantis at least a day to further investigate possible damage to the launch complex after a major lightning strike there Friday. Atlantis was scheduled to lift off on mission STS-115 at 4:30 pm EDT (2030 GMT) Sunday, but the launch has been rescheduled for no sooner than 4:04 pm EDT (2004 GMT) Monday, pending the results of further study to the launch site. Severe thunderstorms rolled through the area Friday afternoon, triggering at least one powerful lightning strike that hit near the shuttle. Although the shuttle itself was not damaged by lightning, technicians are checking to see if ground equipment around the launch pad was damaged. Weather conditions were also deteriorating for a Sunday launch attempt, with the latest forecast calling for only a 40 percent chance of acceptable weather Sunday. Improved weather is expected for Monday and Tuesday.