No Problems As Atlantis Launch Nears

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (AP) – The weather is finally cooperating. Back in March, damage from a freak hail storm prevented the launch of the first space shuttle mission of the year.

But thunderstorms last evening did not drop any additional hail on Kennedy Space Center, and NASA says “Atlantis is finally ready to fly.”

The storms did delay filling the shuttle’s fuel cells. But Test Director Steve Payne says technicians were able to make up lost time. So everything’s good-to-go for liftoff set for 5:38,Mountain Time, tomorrow evening.

The launch forecast for Friday has improved to 80 percent “go.” Atlantis is set to carry seven astronauts up on an eleven-day construction mission to the International Space Station.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-NY-06-07-07 1443EDT