Launch of Discovery Scrubbed for 24 Hours due to Weather

Kennedy Space Center – NASA has delayed the launch of space shuttle Discovery 24 hours due to ongoing and expected bad weather today. They will try again Friday when the weather is expected to be better although high winds could be a problem.

NASA manager made the decision shortly after 6:00 am EDT this morning just before tanking of the shuttle was to begin. Ongoing low clouds, rain and chance of thunderstorms which didn’t look to clear in time for the launch window forced the 24 hour delay.

NASA will try to launch Discovery on Friday at 3:04 pm EDT. Managers will meet at 5:00 am tomorrow morning to evaluate the weather. At this point conditions are expected to get better for Friday but high winds could be an issue. However there is currently a 60% chance of launch for Friday.

Discovery will deliver to the International Space Station the Permanent Multipurpose Module
(PMM) as well as the Express Logistics Carrier 4 (ELC4) to the station and Robonaut 2 (R2), the first human-like robot in space.