CAPE KENNEDY, Fla., July 11 (UPI) -- The countdown was under way Monday toward the first space shuttle launch since the Columbia disaster in 2003.
The clock started at Sunday evening, with NASA aiming for a 3:51 p.m. EDT Wednesday lift-off.
Advertisement
Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters predicted a 70-percent probability that Wednesday's weather conditions will allow the launch. But National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials noted that in the event of a delay, the forecast deteriorates to a 60 percent probability of acceptable launch conditions Thursday and Friday.
The Discovery's crew arrived at the space center Saturday evening -- a day earlier than scheduled to avoid dangerous travel conditions produced by Hurricane Dennis.
