Image above: Remote cameras captured a lightning strike at the launch pad on Friday. Photo credit: NASA

Sunday's shuttle launch postponed

The Space Shuttle Mission Management Team decided Saturday afternoon to postpone the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis for at least 24 hours to allow more time for teams to assess ground and flight systems following a strong lighting strike to the lighting protection system at the launch pad on Friday afternoon.

"We're going to let the teams go off and work the plans," said LeRoy Cain, launch integration manager and chairman of the management team. Cain said the Mission Management Team would review data and decide about Monday when they reconvene at 10 a.m. EDT on Sunday.

View video (Real Player
View video (Windows Media Player)

If it is determined that all systems are go for a Monday launch, the weather presents only a 20 percent chance of "no go" according to U.S. Air Force First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The liftoff time for Monday would be 4:04 p.m. EDT.

The Crew and Mission Ahead
The STS-115 crew consists of Commander Brent W. Jett Jr., Pilot Christopher J. Ferguson and Mission Specialists Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, KD5TVR, Joseph R. Tanner, Daniel C. Burbank, KC5ZSX, and Steven G. MacLean, who represents the Canadian Space Agency.

With this mission, NASA is ready to get back to building the International Space Station, marking the first time in almost four years that a space station component has been added to the orbiting outpost. That also means the shuttle program is coming up on some of the most challenging space missions ever.

During their three spacewalks, crew members of Atlantis will install the P3/P4 integrated truss and a second set of solar arrays on the space station, doubling the station’s current ability to generate power from sunlight and adding 17.5 tons to its mass.