This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/6165395.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Shuttle cleared for night launch | Shuttle cleared for night launch |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Nasa has cleared the space shuttle Discovery for a rare night launch after bad weather forced it to abandon an attempt early on Saturday. | Nasa has cleared the space shuttle Discovery for a rare night launch after bad weather forced it to abandon an attempt early on Saturday. |
| An improved weather forecast gave a 70% chance of favourable conditions for an evening launch at 2047 local time in Florida (0147 GMT on Sunday). | |
| "We'll try to launch tonight," said Nasa spokesman Bruce Buckingham. | "We'll try to launch tonight," said Nasa spokesman Bruce Buckingham. |
| It will be the third shuttle mission in six months and first night launch since the Columbia accident in 2003. | It will be the third shuttle mission in six months and first night launch since the Columbia accident in 2003. |
| Speaking to reporters at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Mr Buckingham said fuelling would start shortly. | Speaking to reporters at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Mr Buckingham said fuelling would start shortly. |
| On Friday the crew of two women and five men were seated inside the shuttle at the scheduled launch time of 2135 (0235 GMT) but low clouds prevented lift-off. | On Friday the crew of two women and five men were seated inside the shuttle at the scheduled launch time of 2135 (0235 GMT) but low clouds prevented lift-off. |
| Nicholas Patrick, now a US citizen, is a robotics expert | Nicholas Patrick, now a US citizen, is a robotics expert |
| "We gave it the best shot and didn't get clear and convincing evidence that the cloud ceiling had cleared for us," launch director Mike Leinbach told the crew. | "We gave it the best shot and didn't get clear and convincing evidence that the cloud ceiling had cleared for us," launch director Mike Leinbach told the crew. |
| Nasa is racing to finish work on the International Space Station (ISS) before the fleet is retired in 2010. | Nasa is racing to finish work on the International Space Station (ISS) before the fleet is retired in 2010. |
| A British-born astronaut, Nicholas Patrick, is among Discovery's crew. | A British-born astronaut, Nicholas Patrick, is among Discovery's crew. |
| Five of the astronauts on the mission are going on their first shuttle flight. | Five of the astronauts on the mission are going on their first shuttle flight. |
| Nasa has described the construction mission as one of the most complex to date. | Nasa has described the construction mission as one of the most complex to date. |
| At least 14 more missions are needed to finish the $100bn (£50bn) station. | At least 14 more missions are needed to finish the $100bn (£50bn) station. |
| Discovery's flight is scheduled to last 12 days, with a landing targeted for 19 December at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. | Discovery's flight is scheduled to last 12 days, with a landing targeted for 19 December at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. |
| Discovery's crew consists of Commander Mark Polansky, pilot William Oefelein and mission specialists Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Sunita Williams and the European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang. | Discovery's crew consists of Commander Mark Polansky, pilot William Oefelein and mission specialists Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Sunita Williams and the European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang. |