spacetoday.net: Weather delays shuttle launch

Posted: Tue, Aug 25, 2009, 8:08 AM ET (1208 GMT)

Despite forecasts of good weather, thundershowers kept the space shuttle Discovery from launching as scheduled early Tuesday. Discovery was set to launch at 1:36 am EDT (0536 GMT) Tuesday from the Kennedy Space Center, but storms, with rain and lightning, forced controllers to postpone the launch. Until that time there had been no other major problems during launch preparations. The launch was rescheduled for 1:10 am EDT (0510 GMT) Tuesday, with a 70 percent chance of good weather; forecasts had predicted an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather for Tuesday's launch attempt. Discovery will bring various equipment ranks and other items to the station, including a treadmill. The mission will also swap one member of the station's six-person crew, replacing Tim Kopra with Nicole Stott.