MMT Gives Green Light, Even Mother Nature Looks Like She'll Cooperate

We imagine there are quite a few fingers crossed at NASA right now... as conditions remain optimal for Wednesday's planned launch of the shuttle Endeavour.

NASA's Mission Management Team gave its thumbs-up for launch Monday, saying the shuttle is in good shape and on target for its first flight since late 2002.

"I'm very proud of the team for overcoming all the difficulties in the countdown and the preparation for flight so far," said Wayne Hale, Space Shuttle Program manager. "The flight crew is down here well-trained and ready to go fly, and based on the review that we had today, we're ready to go fly in two days."

As ANN reported, not even the weather -- lately a bane for NASA -- is expected to stand in the way of a Wednesday evening liftoff. Currently, there's only a 30% chance that isolated showers or anvil clouds could prevent launch. This prediction remains the same in the event of a 24-hour delay.

The countdown began on time at 2000 EDT Sunday. Late Monday night, workers were scheduled to load propellants into the onboard reactant tanks for the shuttle's three fuel cells. When that operation is complete early Wednesday morning, the pad will be reopened for initial pad closeouts and checks of the orbiter's three main engines.

STS-118 will be the 22nd flight to the International Space Station... and the first spaceflight for Mission Specialist Barbara Morgan, the teacher-turned-astronaut who was Christa McAullife's alternate for the ill-fated 1986 Challenger flight.

FMI: www.nasa.gov