Weather Delays Discovery Launch A Second Time

By Tariq Malik
published

Weather Delays Discovery Launch A Second Time
The STS-121 launch was scrubbed for a second day in a row due to concerns of thunder and lightning clouds. (Image credit: NASA)

This story was updated at 2:50 p.m. EDT.

CAPE CANAVERAL,Fla. - Poorweather again thwarted the launch of NASA's space shuttle Discovery Sundayfollowing a day of delays due to thunderstorms and thick clouds.  

NASA launchofficials scrubbed their second launch attempt in two days for Discovery'sSTS-121mission at 1:15 p.m. EDT (1715 GMT) after a seesaw of sunshine, rain andthunder here at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

"We've concludedthat we're not going to have a chance to launch today," NASA launch directorMichael Leinbach told the STS-121 astronauts aboardDiscovery. "We've decided to terminate the count for today and stand down for48 hours."

The decision,which came after it became clear there would be no chance to loft Discoverytoday, now pushes the STS-121 launch target to Tuesday, July 4 at2:37:51 p.m.EDT (1837:51 GMT).

"We copy, andlooking out the window it doesn't look good today and we think that's a greatplan, " STS-121 shuttle commander Steven Lindsey toldlaunch controllers.

A press conferenceon today's launch scrub is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT).

Discovery'sSTS-121 mission is NASA's second shuttle flight since the 2003 Columbia accident. The 12-day spaceflight isexpected to deliver vital supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) anda new crewmember - Thomas Reiter of the European Space Agency (ESA) - for theorbital lab. Shuttle astronauts are also expected to test shuttle inspectionand repair techniques during the spaceflight.

Stormy countdown

At thestart of today's launch attempt, weather forecasters gave the space shot justa30 percent chance of leaving Earth today at 3:26 p.m. EDT (1926 GMT). Clouds, rain or nearby storms violated at least one flightrule - if not more- at one time or another.

"It'salmost easier to talk about what's not violating flight rules than what is," NASAlaunch commentator Bruce Buckingham said early in the day.   

A July 4thliftoffat 2:37:51 p.m. EDT (1837:51 GMT) on Tuesday carries the best chance oflaunching Discovery this week, said U.S. Air Force Lt. KalebNordgren, of the45th Weather Squadron atCape Canaveral Air Force Base.

After theupcoming U.S.holiday, weather forecasts predict worsening conditions during launch time atKSC, Nordgren added.

Over thenext two days, pad workers will top off the super-cold liquid hydrogen andliquid oxygen propellants that will power Discovery'sfuel cells during its planned 12-day mission. That activity will allow theshuttle's power system some extra margin for a possible mission extension dayduring the STS-121spaceflight.

NASA officialsand the STS-121 crew are hoping for that 13th mission day.

The extratime could lead to a third spacewalk, which mission managers pulled offtheSTS-121 flight timeline earlier this year, thatwill test shuttle heat shield repair methods.

Woefulweather

Weatherconditions are always a concern during shuttle launches, especially given NASA'sslim, 10-minute window to loft orbiters toward the International Space Station(ISS).

NASA missioncontrollers typically target the middle of Discovery's launch window in orderto secure the best optimum flight profile for the two-day ISS trip.

But inaway, worrying only about weather is a relief, NASA chief Michael Griffin told SPACE.com.

"It'scomforting because we always have the weather, and most of the time we alwayshave something else," Griffinsaid earlier today. "And as best as we can tell right now we don't haveanything else."

NASA astronautScott Kelly, a shuttle commander and the identical twin brother ofSTS-121 pilotMark Kelly, said his brother's enthusiasm remained high despite facing theweather scrubs.

"He'sgetting ready to go into space, of course he's gung ho," Scott Kelly said ofhis twin during today's launch countdown.

Scott Kelly,himself, is no stranger to launch scrubs. He served as shuttle pilot duringNASA's STS-103 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope in 1999. That mission,also aboard Discovery, suffered several days of delays, including one weatherscrub with the crew aboard, before finally reaching orbit.

 "We'velaunched when we've had a 90 percent of no go and we haven't launched whenwe've had 10 percent of no go," Kelly said. "You have to be prepared."

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Tariq Malik
Tariq Malik
Editor-in-Chief

Tariq is the Editor-in-Chief of Space.com and joined the team in 2001, first as an intern and staff writer, and later as an editor. He covers human spaceflight, exploration and space science, as well as skywatching and entertainment. He became Space.com's Managing Editor in 2009 and Editor-in-Chief in 2019. Before joining Space.com, Tariq was a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times covering education and city beats in La Habra, Fullerton and Huntington Beach. In October 2022, Tariq received the Harry Kolcum Award for excellence in space reporting from the National Space Club Florida Committee. He is also an Eagle Scout (yes, he has the Space Exploration merit badge) and went to Space Camp four times as a kid and a fifth time as an adult. He has journalism degrees from the University of Southern California and New York University. You can find Tariq at Space.com and as the co-host to the This Week In Space podcast with space historian Rod Pyle on the TWiT network. To see his latest project, you can follow Tariq on Twitter @tariqjmalik.