May Allow Nighttime Launch If Schedule Depends On It

Following a less-severe weather forecast, and NASA's decision to return the shuttle Atlantis to the launch pad... it now appears the space agency has a fighting chance of launching the orbiter before its target date of September 7. But if for some reason that doesn't happen, NASA managers are discussing a backup option -- launching Atlantis at night.

Since the return-to-flight launch of Discovery in 2004, NASA has required orbiters to be launched in the light of day -- so cameras can capture detailed photographs of the ship's heat shield and external tank, all in the name of keeping an eye on the problematic foam insulation used on the tank.

That requirement was due to end following the launch of STS-115 -- Atlantis -- but NASA now says it may be worth launching Atlantis at night, if the agency can't meet the September 7 goal -- and the Russians aren't willing to delay their launch of a Soyuz mission scheduled for a week later.

NASA's launch window for Atlantis runs through September 13 -- meaning there are still plenty of daylight launch opportunities available, as long as the Russians are willing to wait a few days -- and that is still the preferred option.

However, if it comes down to a question of launching Atlantis at night, or waiting for the next daytimelaunch window in October... NASA will likely decide on a predawn launch of the orbiter after the Soyuz returns to earth September 29 -- in order to adhere as much as possible to the agency's tight launch schedule for the shuttle program's remaining flights.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/shuttle