On Track for Tuesday's Launch!

[Guest Glenn]

Source: Nasa

 

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, along with the Mission Management Team (MMT) announced at Sunday afternoon's launch readiness press conference that Discovery is on track for a Tuesday launch.

 

Wayne Hale gave a show-and-tell presentation of a fuel sensor module and described how they're used in the External Tank. "We have completed all of our ambient temperature checks. We have run every test we could think of and so far no repeat."

 

Hale went on to say "If the problem recurs and under very closely defined circumstances in sensor #2 or sensor #4 then we will do some more tests and if we are comfortable that we have a good understanding then we can go fly.....We are ready to go launch Tuesday morning. If things go our way we'll see our first Space Shuttle launch in 2 and a half years."

 

Shuttle Weather Officer, 1st Lt. Mindy Chavez, reported that the development of cumulus clouds, stray showers or anvil clouds could be a concern at launch time. The chance of Kennedy weather cooperating for the launch remains at 60 percent.

 

Flight systems and ground support hardware are ready and the flight crew and support teams are eagerly looking forward to a successful launch on Tuesday.

 

The countdown clock came to life at the T-43 hour mark and immediately began counting down toward a liftoff Tuesday at

 

10:39 a.m. EDT.