Space shuttle readied for launch
Written by on February 7th, 2010 in Latest News.
Space shuttle Endeavour is seen Sunday on pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Marta Lavandier/Associated Press)NASA loaded fuel into space shuttle Endeavour’s external tank for the second evening in a row Sunday in anticipation of pre-dawn launch.
The three-hour operation started at 6:50 p.m. ET just as the NFL Super Bowl game was getting underway in Miami.
Endeavour is scheduled to blast off from Florida at 4:14 a.m. ET Monday on the last huge space station construction mission.
Sunday’s launch attempt was scrubbed due to thick, low clouds. Although more of the same is expected Monday, forecasters said there is a 60 per cent chance of acceptable weather.
NASA said Sunday evening the launch was on “red” or “no go” due to the low cloud ceiling. But, it said the weather team was seeing more breaks in the clouds as they make landfall.
It’s the last scheduled night launch for the space shuttle program, which is winding down after nearly 30 years. Four more flights remain after this one.
Endeavour’s six astronauts will deliver and install a new room and observation deck at the International Space Station.
With files from The Associated Press
