spacetoday.net: Countdown begins for shuttle launch

Posted: Tue, Dec 4, 2007, 7:20 AM ET (1220 GMT)

The countdown for the launch of the shuttle Atlantis started Monday evening, with good weather forecast and only minor technical issues being addressed. Atlantis is scheduled to lift off on mission STS-122 at 4:31 pm EST (2131 GMT) Thursday, and weather forecasts predict an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions for the launch at that time; weather conditions are expected to deteriorate should the launch be delayed. The only significant technical problem being addressed is a set of three dings found in foam on the external tank. Those dings will be repaired before the launch. Atlantis is carrying the European lab module Columbus, which will be installed at the new Harmony docking node added to the station on the previous shuttle mission.