Mon, Jul 13, 2009
Face It, They Should Have Taken The Bus...
ANN Realtime
Update, 07.13.09, 1849 EDT: NASA officials are now looking
at a 48 hour scrub that puts a potential Shuttle launch on the sked
at 1803 EDT, due to a doubtful meteorological picture for
Tuesday.
Original Report: Here we go again... nearby
lightning, anvil clouds and thunderstorms in the immediate
area have caused NASA officials to call today's Monday launch,
originally scheduled for 1651 EDT, a scrub. This was their fifth
try.
NASA's official statement simplay says, "Liftoff of space
shuttle Endeavour on the STS-127 mission has been scrubbed once
more due to weather within the launch area at NASA's Kennedy Space
Center in Florida. Anvil clouds and storm cells containing
lightning flared up toward the end of the countdown, violating
stringent launch safety rules."
It's been a tough process. Over the weekend, a series of nearby
lightning strikes screwed up the works and created a potential
hazard that required investigation. None of the strikes hit the
shuttle or its external tank and solid rocket boosters, but there
were strikes to the lightning mast and water tower. The launch pad
is equipped with a lightning protection system of wires that is
intended to steer bolts away from the shuttle. At the time, Mike
Moses, chairman of the pre-launch Mission Management Team, noted
that, "We've seen nothing so far that shows anything affected any
of the systems."
Two of the strikes were strong enough to trigger an evaluation
by engineers just to make sure all of Endeavour's systems are ready
for flight. Although early evaluations showed no problems,
engineers wanted more time to make sure they have checked
everything correctly. As a result, the analysts were given the
night to work up a full check up of all systems and components
before clearing the orbiter for launch early Sunday morning with
tanking commencing at 0948 EDT -- only to be foiled by Mother
nature once again.
Currently, NASA says the next launch window will come tomorrow
or possibly Wednesday... current weather estimates put tomorrow's
chances at 40% of a successful weather picture and 60% on Wednesday
-- we'll keep you informed as to any potential progress.
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