Weather Also Unfavorable For Wednesday Return To KSC

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 09.19.06 1300 EDT: Concerns over a piece of debris spotted during a routine ground-tracking camera test, as well as an unfavorable weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center, have led NASA to delay Wednesday's planned landing of the shuttle Atlantis by at least one day.

NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston, TX informed the STS-115 crew about 10:45 am EDT that Wednesday's landing attempts have been waved off due to an unfavorable weather forecast, coupled with the possibility of additional inspections of Space Shuttle Atlantis.

An object was observed by flight controllers using a TV camera on the shuttle in close proximity to the spacecraft. It was observed following standard tests of Atlantis' reaction control system about 2:45 am today. Flight controllers continue to analyze the situation -- but they are concerned the item may be something that came off of Atlantis, as it is tracking the same orbit as the shuttle.

Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale said engineers and flight controllers are developing a plan for inspections that may be performed on Wednesday to ensure that Atlantis is safe for re-entry.

Atlantis has equipment aboard that can be used to thoroughly inspect the heat shield and other areas. The orbiter's crew is preparing to deploy the shuttle's robotic arm in order to snap photographs of the area engineers believe the debris may have separated from.

Landing opportunities for Atlantis on Thursday begin with a potential 6:22 am EDT touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center, FL.

The weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center calls for better weather at the Shuttle Landing Facility on Thursday. Forecasters will continue to monitor the situation. The weather forecast for Wednesday had called for unacceptable thunderstorms and strong winds at the potential landing time.

FMI: www.nasa.gov