CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. - The countdown for NASA's planned night launch
of the shuttle Discovery
Thursday remains on schedule, though a deteriorating weather forecast continues
to plague the space shot.
"We
are tracking no real issues that would the affect the launch of the space
shuttle Discovery tomorrow," said NASA test director Jeff Spaulding.
Launch
engineers are investigating two technical
issues that cropped up during routine shuttle inspections, but neither one is
expected to delay launch. One involves a brief power surge in electrical
circuits connecting power from the mobile launch platform to the orbiter and
the other an anomalous test result from an adhesive used on the shuttle's
reusable solid rocket motor.
Discovery
is slated to lift off with seven astronauts at 9:35:47 p.m. EST (0235:47 Dec. 8
GMT) toward the International
Space Station (ISS) for a 12-day construction mission. The STS-116
mission's launch window runs from Dec. 7 to 17, with the possibility that
it could be extended further if NASA managers decide to allow the mission to run
over the New Year.
"I'm
pleased to announce that our vehicle, our team, and hopefully, our launch
weather, will also be ready for tomorrow's launch," Spaulding said.
But weather
here at Kennedy Space Center has been less cooperative. A cold front moving
into Central Florida is expected to bring showers and low clouds that could
affect launch. As a result, predictions for favorable weather on Thursday have
gradually deteriorated and currently stand at 60 percent.
The outlook
for Friday and Saturday are even bleaker.
"The
forecast is trended towards the worst," NASA shuttle weather officer Kathy
Winters said. "Right now, we're just mainly concerned about the [cloud]
ceiling on launch day and the following two days we're going to really be
concerned about the winds."
Weather
conditions are expected to clear up on Sunday, however, and to remain clear
until Tuesday.
"We
still are going to be concerned about crosswinds, but we think Tuesday out of
those three days is going to be the best day," Winters said.
Led by commander
Mark Polanksy, the seven-member crew
of STS-116 are tasked with delivering a new portside piece of the International
Space Station (ISS) and rewiring the orbital laboratory's electrical grid. Mission specialists Sunita
Williams will also relieve ESA astronaut Thomas
Reiter who has been aboard the station since July.
Significant
events planned for today include power up and checkout of ground and orbiter
communications systems and the removal later tonight of the rotating servicing
structure that protects the shuttle from the elements. In between an ISS systems
brief and shuttle landing practice, the astronauts will also get to see and
spend time with their families today.
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