Shuttle Launch Delayed Again

NASA's next launch attempt will be Tuesday at 1438 EDT (1838 GMT).

The astronauts were strapped into their seats, but Discovery's hatch had not yet been sealed when Launch Director Mike Leinbach radioed the crew to tell him his decision at 1315 EDT (1715 GMT).

"We think that's a great plan," Discovery commander Steve Lindsey responded.

Weather was sketchy all day. "In all honesty, it's almost easier to talk about [launch] criteria that have not been violated," KSC spokesperson Bruce Buckingham said in the morning.

NASA weather requirements on lightning, cumulus clouds, anvil clouds, general disturbed weather, thick cloud layers, electrical potential in the atmosphere, precipitation, cloud ceilings and winds were all 'red' – no-go for launch – at times on Sunday morning.

During the day, some of the conditions cleared up while others stayed in violation of launch constraints.

Lightning kept the final inspection team, which searches for ice and debris around the shuttle before launch, off the launch pad for a while. A giant blue-gray rain cloud seemed to hang over the Atlantic Ocean as the countdown clock was in its planned hold at T-minus three hours.

Finally, lightning, anvil and cumulus clouds and electrical potential in the atmosphere forced weather officers to call off the countdown.

For the astronauts, going through the motions of getting suited up and seated into the space shuttle day after day can be tiring.

"It's something you don't enjoy doing – scrubbing – but you understand it," says astronaut Scott Kelly, twin brother to Discovery pilot Mark Kelly.

"You are strapped into the orbiter for three hours," Scott Kelly says. "You're strapped into the seat pretty tight and you're in the suit and you can't move, so any pressure points … it hurts."

Astronauts wear a cooling garment that circulates cool liquid underneath the orange pressure suit, so the summer heat in Florida does not pose much of a problem.

Not making a launch attempt on Monday will give the crew a rest day and will also allow NASA to fill up the hydrogen for Discovery's fuel cells, which generate electricity for the orbiter in space.

Conditions are expected to improve slightly on Tuesday with a 40% chance of poor weather. Upper-level winds are expected to be lighter, making high anvil clouds – which can generate lightning – less of a concern. Drier air may also mean fewer thunderstorms developing.

Source: New Scientist Space