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Senior NASA and contractor managers meeting at the Kennedy Space Center today officially selected April 4 as the launch date for the next shuttle mission.

If the launch takes place April 4, liftoff will be expected between 2 and 6 p.m. EST. The exact time won't be revealed until the day before launch because of security concerns.

However, publicly available information from U.S. government sources reveals a launch time that is in the ballpark of 5:10 to 5:15 p.m. EST.

Our coverage of the STS-110 mission will officially kick off on this page next Monday, April 1.

Launch of Atlantis remains set for Thursday, NASA officials report this morning.

A potential showstopper went away during the long Easter weekend when new station robot arm software was uplinked to the outpost and successfully tested by the Expedition Four crew.

So today we await official word that the STS-110 Atlantis crew has arrived at the Kennedy Space Center and that the countdown has begun. NASA is keeping the exact times those events occur a secret because of a new heightened security policy.

Meanwhile, at launch pad 39B the rear engine compartment of Atlantis has been closed for flight and workers are preparing to close the shuttle's payload bay doors. All work is reportedly moving along right on schedule.

The early weather forecast isn't great. After enjoying a spate of clear, sunny weather here in Florida the winds have shifted and the humidity is building, promising a chance of rainshowers and thunderstorms every afternoon this week -- with those probabilities increasing as the week progresses.

At the moment the weather forecast predicts a 60 percent chance of favorable conditions for the launch.

We will update this page again early this evening.

The seven-member flight crew has arrived at the Kennedy Space Center.

NASA public affairs confirmed the astronauts touched down in their T-38 jets at the Shuttle Landing Facility about noon today. A videotaped replay of their arrival was just broadcast on NASA TV.

The next step toward launch is the official start of the countdown. Again, because of security concerns, NASA will not announce the exact time the countdown starts but they will confirm it has begun.

We expect the countdown to begin later today.

Liftoff is expected during a launch period that extends from 2 to 6 p.m. EST Thursday. We expect the actual launch time to be around the 5:10 to 5:15 p.m. EST timeframe.

The weather forecast predicts a 60 percent chance of favorable conditions for launch, with afternoon rainshowers and thunderstorms the primary threat.

We will update this page again following NASA's confirmation that the countdown has begun.

The STS-110 countdown is officially underway. When it began is still a secret, but it probably began early last night.

So far there are no problems reported.

Weather continues to be something we'll have to watch carefully. At launch time late yesterday afternoon there were threatening clouds, rainshowers and thunderstorms dotting Central Florida. The weather isn't expected to change much until Thursday night, when forecasters predict a cold front will move through the area.

Officially there is a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time.

We will get our first countdown briefing from NASA at 9 a.m. EST today, after which we will update this page again.

And beginning with that update, and for the rest of the mission, the words presented in this box will be written by Roger Guillemette, long-time aerospace writer and industry observer who took my spot at FLORIDA TODAY when I left the newspaper in January 2000 to join SPACE.com.

Roger will be a SPACE.com correspondent for the duration of the STS-110 flight, assisting the Cape Canaveral Bureau in our coverage of the mission.

NASA has officially confirmed that the countdown for shuttle Atlantis is under way for a Thursday afternoon launch attempt but many other mission specifics remained cloaked by a thin veil of official semi-secrecy. The launch period extends from 2 to 6 p.m. EST Thursday - NASA will not announce a specific 10-minute launch window until 24 hours prior to launch. Public sources have previously indicated that liftoff will occur sometime between 5:10 and 5:16 p.m. EST. 

NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding briefed reporters on the STS-110 countdown this morning, proclaiming the shuttle to be in "excellent shape" and said that Atlantis is "ready to go." The launch team is not working any significant problems at this time.

Atlantis' seven member crew - led by commander Mike Bloomfield - arrived at the Kennedy Space Center yesterday afternoon, minus the usual assortment of reporters and photographers that would normally greet the astronauts. The event was not broadcast live on NASA television but videotaped for later replay.

The official launch weather forecast has improved slightly with a 70 percent probability of acceptable weather at launch time. A chance of low clouds and precipitation along Florida's Space Coast are the primary threats to a Thursday launch.

In the event of a 24-hour launch delay, Friday's forecast is excellent with an 80 percent chance of good weather, while a slip to Saturday creates more of a problem, with only marginal weather conditions forecast at the Kennedy Space Center and all three Trans-Atlantic Abort landing strips.

The traditional NASA pre-launch press conference is scheduled at 4 p.m. EST today, after which we will update this page again.

NASA managers are investigating a problem found on another shuttle but say they are optimistic the trouble won't delay Thursday's planned launch of Atlantis.

The issue is with a sluggish Power Drive Unit (PDU) discovered during routine testing on Endeavour, currently being prepared for a May 31 launch. The PDU in question is used to close the External Tank umbilical door on the belly of the shuttle after the empty propellant tank separates.

The door normally takes no longer than 48 seconds to close during testing on the ground, but the suspect PDU on Endeavour took 54 seconds to shut during one of several tests -- triggering an investigation to make sure this wasn't a symptom of a larger problem.

The drive unit must be able to close the door -- which is covered with heat protection tiles -- after launch or the shuttle can't survive the return to Earth.

Shuttle program manager Ron Dittemore said Tuesday they needed a little more time to analyze their data to make sure there wouldn't be a problem with the PDU that closes the door on Atlantis -- which had, in fact, passed its pre-flight tests.

NASA officials will meet again at 4 p.m. EST Wednesday to review what has been learned and then likely will approve the continuation of the countdown, Dittemore said.

The next countdown status briefing is scheduled at 9 a.m. EST Wednesday, after which we will update this page again -- or sooner if conditions warrant.

The countdown continues uneventfully for tomorrow's scheduled launch of shuttle Atlantis on a mission to the International Space Station but unpredictable Florida weather will cause some last minute nail-biting for the launch team.

Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters is forecasting a marginal 60 percent chance of acceptable weather during Thursday's launch window - showers and thunderstorms are the major concerns. Weather alarms have just sounded here at the Kennedy Space Center warning of thunderstorms, small hail and gusty winds to arrive later this afternoon.

Meanwhile, mission managers will meet at 4 p.m. EST today to analyze engineering data from another shuttle before giving their final go-ahead to launch Atlantis. This meeting is likely to be just a formality and should not affect tomorrow's launch attempt.

A Power Drive Unit, used to close the External Tank umbilical door on the belly of the shuttle after the empty propellant tank separates, performed sluggishly during a routine test on shuttle Endeavour. This triggered an investigation to make sure this wasn't a symptom of a larger problem affecting the entire shuttle fleet.

Later this afternoon, NASA will officially announce a specific launch window for Atlantis. The agency has only acknowledged a 4-hour launch period, extending from 2 to 6 p.m. EST Thursday. Public sources have indicated that liftoff will occur between 5:10 to 5:16 p.m. EST.

We will update this page again as soon as the official launch time is announced -- or sooner if conditions warrant.

It's official! Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled for launch to the International Space Station tomorrow at 5:13 p.m. EST.

NASA spokesman George Diller officially confirmed the worst-kept secret in Florida, announcing that Thursday's launch window will extend from 5:07:52 to 5:17:50 p.m. EST, with a preferred liftoff time of 5:12:51 p.m. EST.

The countdown is continuing uneventfully but the launch team is keeping a wary eye on Florida's unpredictable weather that is threatening to keep Atlantis grounded.

Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters is predicting a marginal 60 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions during Thursday's launch window - showers and thunderstorms are the major concerns. Strong thunderstorms and heavy rain pounded the Kennedy Space Center this afternoon and similar conditions could create problems tomorrow.

The Mission Management Team this afternoon cleared Atlantis for launch after determining that a sluggish Power Drive Unit on another shuttle is not of concern to this mission.

We will update this page tomorrow morning at approx. 8:30 a.m. EST to confirm the start of tanking - or sooner if circumstances warrant.

Tanking operations, or the filling of shuttle Atlantis' massive external tank with a half-million gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, is now under way. This approx. three-hour procedure started about twenty minutes ago at 8:05 a.m. EST.

Launch is scheduled just before 5:13 p.m. EST during a launch window that extends from 5:07:52 to 5:17:50 p.m. EST, with a preferred liftoff time of 5:12:51 p.m. EST.

Meanwhile, the countdown is proceeding uneventfully and there are no technical problems reported at pad 39B.

Weather continues to be the major concern with a marginal 60 percent probability of acceptable conditions forecast at launch time. Low clouds, showers and thunderstorms are the primary threats.

We will update this page again following the conclusion of tanking at approx. 11:30 a.m. EST - or sooner if circumstances warrant.

NASA TV coverage of the launch will begin about 2 p.m. EST and you are invited to watch by clicking on the link above to our video feed. If you are on the Space Coast you can listen to SPACE.com's live coverage of the launch by tuning your AM radio to WMMB NewsTalk 1240 or 1350.

A "massive" hydrogen leak on the Mobile Launch Platform on pad 39-B has forced NASA to scrub today's planned launch of Atlantis. The launch cancellation was called at 9:27 a.m. EST.

A twenty-four hour scrub turnaround is in work.

We will update this page again as soon as more details become available.

A "massive" hydrogen leak on the Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) on pad 39-B has forced NASA to scrub today's planned launch of shuttle Atlantis. The launch cancellation was called at 9:27 a.m. EST, according to NASA spokesman Kyle Herring.

The leak occurred in a liquid hydrogen line running along the outside of the platform that the stacked shuttle vehicle sits upon on the launch pad. The leak was captured by video cameras positioned around the pad. "It's something we have never seen before," noted Herring.

Tanking operations were well under way at the time of the scrub. The External Tank is now being emptied of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen and the vehicle is being "safed" to allow access to the area.

A twenty-four hour scrub turnaround is in work, although a new launch date cannot be confirmed until workers can evaluate the severity of the leak.

NASA is planning a news conference later today after which we will update this page again.

Shuttle Atlantis will remain grounded until at least Sunday as workers scramble to repair a ruptured liquid hydrogen vent line on the shuttle's Mobile Launcher Platform.

The potentially explosive liquid hydrogen leak was spotted by a sharp-eyed technician monitoring video images from the launch pad as Atlantis' huge External Tank was being filled with super-chilled liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The leak was detected at 9:11 a.m. EST and the liquid hydrogen flow was halted within a minute.

According to Shuttle launch director Mike Lienbach, at no time was the leak considered to be a threat to the shuttle itself. All launch team personnel are cleared from the launch pad prior to the hazardous tanking operations.

Engineers are meeting later today to evaluate three different scenarios to repair the aluminum weld on the 16-inch diameter double-walled pipe at the launch pad. There are no plans to roll the entire shuttle stack back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs.

Two of the repair options could result in a Sunday afternoon launch attempt, weather permitting; otherwise, launch could slip into early next week.

NASA's official policy of semi-secrecy remains in force. Agency spokesman Bruce Buckingham would only acknowledge a four-hour launch period from 2 to 6 p.m. EST on whatever day the launch is rescheduled.

A complete wrap-up story will be posted shortly. We will update this page again tomorrow morning - or sooner if conditions warrant.

Shuttle officials at the Kennedy Space Center reportedly have decided a course of action to repair the 16-inch diameter pipe that spewed hydrogen gas Thursday at pad 39B, forcing a delay in Atlantis' assembly mission to the space station.

Sources report the consensus seems to be on the idea of wrapping a clamshell-like device around the failed weld on the line, and then welding that "wrap" in place to plug the leak.

Top mission managers will meet Friday morning to officially bless the plan and then take a fresh look at the schedule to see when they might be ready for another launch attempt.

Officials said earlier Thursday that a Sunday launch attempt might be possible, but it seems there is now a great deal of pessimism about the notion. No official date has been set.

When the new launch date is set, NASA for security reasons continues to plan to not announce the exact launch time until 24 hours before liftoff. For now they expect to announce a four-hour launch period of 2 to 6 p.m. EDT.

As the new exact launch time is not widely known yet outside the space agency, SPACE.com will honor a request from NASA not to publicize that time until it is officially released. However, the launch time can be easily calculated based on information provided previously on this Web site, or with information available from NASA's own Web sites.

We will update this page again Friday morning after the results of the Mission Management Team meeting are known.

NASA officials have targeted Monday afternoon for the next launch attempt of shuttle Atlantis as repairs continue on a ruptured liquid hydrogen vent line on the Mobile Launcher Platform.

Technicians are wrapping a clamshell-like device around a failed weld on the 16-inch diameter pipe that runs along the outside of the structure that supports the shuttle stack at the launch pad. That "wrap" will then be welded in place to plug the leak that spewed potentially explosive hydrogen gas Thursday at pad 39B, forcing a delay in Atlantis' assembly mission to the station.

For security reasons, NASA will not reveal the exact launch time until 24 hours prior to liftoff, acknowledging only that launch will occur sometime during a four-hour period of 2 to 6 p.m. EDT.

As the new exact launch time is not widely known yet outside the space agency, SPACE.com will honor a request from NASA not to publicize that time until it is officially released. However, the launch time can be easily calculated based on information provided previously on this Web site, or with information available from NASA's own Web sites.

We will update this page again later this evening - or sooner if circumstances warrant.

Repairs continue on the ruptured liquid hydrogen vent line at launch pad 39B that forced NASA to scrub Thursday's launch of shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station.

Launch has been tentatively rescheduled for mid-afternoon Monday, pending a successful mending job on the 16-inch diameter pipe that runs along the outside of the structure that supports the shuttle stack at the launch pad. 

Work began at noon Friday to weld two 10-inch (25-centimeter) wide "clamshells" of aluminum pipe together around the failed joint. A series of validation tests, including "cold shocking" of the new welds, will follow the repair job.

NASA will not reveal Atlantis' exact launch time until 24 hours prior to liftoff, acknowledging only that liftoff will occur sometime during a four-hour period of 2 to 6 p.m. EDT. As the new exact launch time is not widely known yet outside the space agency, SPACE.com will honor a request from NASA not to publicize that time until it is officially released.

Atlantis' onboard supply of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen will be topped-off over the weekend. Researchers will also replace a number of scientific experiment samples that will be carried up to the space station. 

The early weather forecast for Monday is optimistic with a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions predicted at launch time, although gusty winds could pose a problem. However, even if Florida's dynamic weather cooperates, unacceptable conditions are expected at all three overseas emergency landing sites, threatening another launch delay.

Launch managers will meet at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday to review the pipeline repair and inspection efforts prior to issuing a formal decision to proceed with a Monday afternoon launch attempt. A pre-launch countdown status briefing is also scheduled for around midday Sunday.

We will next update this page on Sunday afternoon, following the countdown status briefing - or sooner if circumstances warrant.

Stiff winds, gusting as high as 30 knots (34.5 mph), threaten to delay tomorrow's planned launch of shuttle Atlantis on a mission to the International Space Station.

Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters has downgraded an earlier optimistic forecast and is now predicting only a marginal 60 percent chance of acceptable weather for Monday afternoon. The strong winds expected could exceed allowable limits at both the launch pad and the Shuttle Landing Facility - a critical factor in the unlikely event of an emergency Return-to-Launch-Site abort.

Technicians, working through the weekend, have successfully mended a liquid hydrogen vent line on launch pad 39-B, clearing the way for another launch attempt tomorrow. A series of validation tests, including "cold shocking" of the new welds, followed the repair effort and the pipe has now been certified for use.

Launch managers will meet at 3 p.m. EDT today to sign-off on the pipeline repair and inspection efforts prior to issuing their formal decision to proceed with a Monday afternoon launch attempt. 

NASA will announce Atlantis' exact launch time later this afternoon, still acknowledging only that liftoff will occur sometime during a four-hour period of 2 to 6 p.m. EDT.

We will next update this page as soon as the official launch time is announced - or sooner if circumstances warrant.

Mission managers have cleared shuttle Atlantis for a launch attempt Monday afternoon, apparently satisfied with the outcome of a weekend repair job to a ruptured liquid hydrogen vent line on the launch pad. A forecast of gusty winds along Florida's Space Coast, however, threaten yet another launch delay. 

NASA also officially revealed the target liftoff time for Atlantis on its mission to the International Space Station. Launch is targeted for 4:39:31 p.m. EDT, during a launch window that extends from 4:34:31 to 4:44:30 p.m. EDT.

Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters downgraded an earlier optimistic forecast and is predicting only a marginal 60 percent chance of acceptable weather for Monday afternoon. Strong winds, gusting as high as 30 knots (34.5 mph), may exceed allowable limits at both the launch pad and the Shuttle Landing Facility - a critical factor in the unlikely event of an emergency Return-to-Launch-Site abort.

Technicians have topped-off the oxygen and hydrogen levels in Atlantis' fuel cells that are used to generate electricity and yield drinking water during the mission. The huge Rotating Service Structure that surrounds and protects the shuttle on the pad will be rolled back at 10 p.m. EDT in preparation for launch.

We will next update this page tomorrow morning at about 7:45 a.m. EDT to confirm the start of tanking - or sooner if circumstances warrant.

Our complete launch story is now posted and we will next update this page tomorrow morning - sooner if circumstances warrant.

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