Launch May Be Delayed Several Days Due To Stormy Weather

As NASA starts the clock Wednesday towards Saturday's scheduled launch of the space shuttle Discovery, a less-than-ideal weather forecast may mean the orbiter will sit on the pad a little longer than planned.

NASA shuttle weather officer Kathy Winters told the Associated Press there is a 60 percent chance of storm clouds Saturday, which due to the potential for lightning would prevent liftoff unless the clouds were to part during the 10-minute launch window.

If Discovery's Saturday launch is postponed, it may mean the shuttle will sit on the pad for several days after that... as the weather is only expected to grow worse throughout next week.

NASA test director Jeff Spaulding says the space shuttle currently had no technical problems that would prevent a launch attempt, however... and hinted he is cautiously optimstic about the launch going forward.

"Obviously these forecasts, while they sound a little bit gloomy, we've certainly launched with higher predictions of no-go," Spaulding said.

Even if the launch is delayed for several days, NASA will have plenty of time to launch Discovery -- its launch window runs through July 19.

FMI: www.nasa.gov