NASA Delays Shuttle Launch Due To Hurricane Threat to Houston
The launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis has been postponed to no earlier than Thursday, Oct. 3, while weather forecasters and the mission management team assess the possible effect Hurricane Lili may have on the Mission Control Center located at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Most current forecast models show the storm is likely to make landfall in central Louisiana on Friday after the storm takes a northerly turn on Thursday. However, one usually reliable prediction model shows a slightly more westerly landfall. This could increase the probability of winds in excess 50 knots in the Houston vicinity that would require a precautionary closure of the Johnson Space Center.
A decision on whether a further delay is necessary will be made on Wednesday morning. The astronauts will remain at Kennedy Space Center until it is determined whether a longer delay will be required.
At this time no technical issues or concerns are being worked on the launch vehicle. The launch period for Thursday remains between 2-6 PM EDT
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