NASA scrubs Endeavour launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., July 13 (UPI) -- Liftoff of the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour was postponed Monday due to poor weather conditions in the Kennedy Space Center launch area, NASA said.

"Anvil clouds and storm cells containing lightning flared up toward the end of the countdown, violating stringent launch safety rules," NASA said on its Web site.

The launch was rescheduled for Wednesday at 6:03 p.m. EDT.

Liftoff had been delayed Friday, Saturday and Sunday because of thunderstorms in the Kennedy Space Center area of central Florida.

Endeavour had been cleared for launch Monday after space agency managers decided a partially loose thruster cover was not a hazard. The loose thruster cover was noticed during the countdown for the scrapped Sunday liftoff.

"After a thorough discussion, teams decided that no action was required to reattach the cover and to leave the rotating servicing structure on the launch pad open," NASA said in a statement. "The Tyvek cover … (is) used to keep rain and other debris out of the thruster."

The 16-day mission to the International Space Station will include five spacewalks to complete construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory.