spacetoday.net: Countdown begins for STS-135 launch, weather a concern

Countdown begins for STS-135 launch, weather a concern

Posted: Wed, Jul 6, 2011, 3:58 AM ET (0758 GMT)

Countdown clocks started Tuesday afternoon for Friday's scheduled launch of the space shuttle Atlantis on the final mission of the shuttle program, but weather could delay the mission. The countdown started Tuesday at 1 pm EDT (1700 GMT) for the launch of mission STS-135, scheduled for 11:26 am EDT (1526 GMT) Friday. Weather forecasts call for a 60 percent chance of unacceptable weather on launch day, however, with the threat of clouds and rain; the forecast improves somewhat for Saturday and Sunday. Mission managers said they are working no technical issues for the launch. The mission, the final one for the shuttle program, will deliver supplies and other equipment to the International Space Station.