NASA rules out Friday shuttle launch

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Thu Dec 7, 2006 10:47pm ET
   Email This Article | Print This Article | Reprints [-] Text [+] By Irene Klotz

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA rescheduled space shuttle Discovery's liftoff for Saturday after thick, low clouds forced a postponement of the first launch attempt on Thursday night.

Managers decided to skip a Friday attempt because meteorologists forecast a 90 percent chance of another delay due to high winds stirred by a cold front pushing through central Florida.

\"We gave it the best shot and did not get clear,\" NASA launch director Mike Leinbach said on Thursday, after calling off what would have been the first nighttime launch in four years.


Replied Discovery commander Mark Polansky, \"Try not to be too disappointed and we will be ready to support the next time we get a chance.\"

Discovery's crew was strapped inside the orbiter for liftoff but the clouds failed to part before the launch window expired and the attempt was canceled.

Saturday's launch attempt was set for 8:48 p.m. (0148 GMT on Sunday).

\"The weather for Saturday is slightly better,\" said NASA launch commentator Bruce Buckingham.

Forecasters expect a 40 percent chance of suitable weather for liftoff on Saturday.  

NASA is hoping to launch its third mission in six months and get a jump on the looming deadline to finish International Space Station assembly before the shuttle fleet is retired in 2010.

The launch will be NASA's first in darkness since before the 2003 Columbia disaster. Managers recently lifted the ban on night launches, imposed to ensure cameras had good lighting to spot any debris falling off the shuttle's fuel tank.

Debris damaged Columbia, triggering the breakup of the ship and the deaths of its seven astronauts as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere.

On the last flight, astronauts delivered new solar arrays to provide power for additional modules scheduled to be installed next year. The tricky task of wiring the arrays into the station's power grid falls to Discovery's crew. At least 14 more missions are needed to finish the $100 billion outpost.

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Discovery's flight is scheduled to last 12 days.

In addition to Polansky, the five-man, two-woman crew consists of Sweden's first astronaut, Christer Fuglesang, pilot William Oefelein, flight engineer Robert Curbeam and mission specialists Nicholas Patrick, Joan Higginbotham and Sunita Williams.

Only Polansky and Curbeam have made previous spaceflights.