U.S. space shuttle Endeavour enters launch countdown

Source: Xinhua | 11-12-2008 13:35

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. space shuttle Endeavour enters its official launch countdown at 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday (0300 GMT on Wednesday), aiming at a targeted launch on Nov. 14, NASA reported.

Crew members of the space shuttle Endeavour on Mission STS-126 arrive to prepare for launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida Nov. 11, 2008. From left are Donald Pettit, Pilot Eric Boe, Mission Commander Chris Ferguson, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Robert Kimbrough, Steve Bowen and Sandra Magnus. The mission to the  International Space Station is scheduled for Nov.14. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Liftoff is scheduled for Friday at 7:55 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Preparations on Endeavour are on schedule for the liftoff with officials reporting no technical issues standing in the way of a launch, said NASA.

However, NASA Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters gave the shuttle a 60 percent chance of meeting launch weather criteria for Friday's attempt. That falls to 40 percent chance of acceptable conditions on Saturday, but back up to a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions on Sunday.

A weather front that could produce thick clouds is expected to enter the KSC region on Friday or Saturday, Winters said. Under certain conditions, the clouds can be thick enough to prompt lightning concerns.