spacetoday.net: Shuttle launch remains on schedule

Posted: Wed, Jul 13, 2005, 8:19 AM ET (1219 GMT)
STS-114: logo (NASA)

The launch of the space shuttle Discovery remains on track for Wednesday afternoon despite an incident late Tuesday that caused minor damage to the orbiter. During launch preparations a cover placed over one of the overhead windows on the shuttle's crew cabin fell off, striking a carrier panel on one of the shuttle's engine pods, damaging two tiles there. Shuttle engineers were able to quickly replace the panel with a spare taken from the shuttle Endeavour. Early Wednesday tanking of the shuttle's external take was delayed to repair a faulty heater, but was started shortly after 7 am EDT (1100 GMT). Launch remains scheduled for 3:51 pm EDT (1951 GMT), with a 60 percent chance of acceptable weather.