Storms threaten final shuttle launch

Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.

Rain in the forecast threatened to delay the last space-shuttle launch, set for today, and a lightning strike near the pad briefly caused a flurry of concern at NASA before engineers concluded the spaceship was OK.

The lightning bolt hit a water tower about 500 feet from the launch pad at midday Thursday, the space agency said. Technicians hurried out to check for electrical problems, but a review board ruled out any damage.

Over the years, lightning has struck on or near the launch pad occasionally, delaying a few launches but causing no damage.

The forecast for today, meanwhile, looked dismal, with only a 30 percent chance of acceptable weather at launch time, 11:26 a.m.

NASA test director Jeff Spaulding pointed out that space shuttles have managed to launch with worse forecasts.

“There’s some opportunity there,” he said Thursday as the rain set in. “It’s a really tough day if you make a decision not to go, and it turns out to be good weather.”

NASA is closing out its 30-year space-shuttle program to take aim at asteroids and Mars, destinations favored by the White House. Private companies will take over the job of hauling cargo and crews to the International Space Station, freeing NASA up to focus on points beyond.

“We believe that on behalf of the American people, it is time for NASA to do the hard things to go beyond low-Earth orbit,” NASA’s deputy administrator, Lori Garver, told reporters gathering for the launch.

The odds of good flying weather improve with each passing day, said shuttle weather officer Kathy Winters. The launch time moves slightly earlier every day, and that helps, she said.

NASA has until Sunday, possibly Monday, to get Atlantis and its four astronauts in orbit. Otherwise, the spacecraft will remain grounded until the following weekend because of an Air Force rocket launch that takes priority.