STS-110 countdown begins
Posted: Wed, Apr 3, 2002, 9:07 AM ET (1407 GMT)
The countdown for Thursday's launch of the shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-110 began on Monday, still shrouded in secrecy, NASA officials confirmed Tuesday. The news was not unexpected, since a Thursday afternoon launch would have normally required the countdown to begin on Monday. The exact launch time will be announced by NASA Wednesday afternoon, 24 hours before the launch; NASA has only said that the launch will take place between 2 and 6 pm EST (1900-2300 GMT), but outside analysts have estimated a launch time of approximately 5:15 pm EST (2215 GMT) based on the orbit of the space station. Technicians are checking the motors on a door in the shuttle's underside that closes after the external tank jettisons, but NASA officials say they are optimistic that the door will check out fine. Meteorologists are forecasting a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather Thursday afternoon. Atlantis will dock with the International Space Station and install the first segment of the station's truss.
The countdown for Thursday's launch of the shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-110 began on Monday, still shrouded in secrecy, NASA officials confirmed Tuesday. The news was not unexpected, since a Thursday afternoon launch would have normally required the countdown to begin on Monday. The exact launch time will be announced by NASA Wednesday afternoon, 24 hours before the launch; NASA has only said that the launch will take place between 2 and 6 pm EST (1900-2300 GMT), but outside analysts have estimated a launch time of approximately 5:15 pm EST (2215 GMT) based on the orbit of the space station. Technicians are checking the motors on a door in the shuttle's underside that closes after the external tank jettisons, but NASA officials say they are optimistic that the door will check out fine. Meteorologists are forecasting a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather Thursday afternoon. Atlantis will dock with the International Space Station and install the first segment of the station's truss.
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