spacetoday.net: NASA tying up loose ends for shuttle launch

Posted: Tue, Jul 12, 2005, 8:23 AM ET (1223 GMT)
STS-114: logo (NASA)

Shuttle managers said late Monday they were handing only a few "loose ends" in the final days before Wednesday afternoon's launch of the shuttle Discovery. Those issues include continued studies of external tank sensors that failed in an April test, even though NASA has since replaced the tank to be used on this mission, as well as paperwork for tools that will be tested during the shuttle mission. During a flight readiness review Monday several engineers expressed concern about an electrical umbilical link on the launch pad, but managers sided with a majority of engineers who felt the link was not a major issue. Managers were optimistic that these issues would be closed by Tuesday. Weather remains good, with a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather for the 3:51 pm EDT (1951 GMT) launch, although meteorologists are keeping an eye no a new tropical storm in the Caribbean that could pose a threat if the launch is delayed after the end of this week.