Cape Canaveral, Fla. – Low clouds forced NASA to delay the launch of space shuttle Discovery late Thursday, and a forecast for strong winds prompted the space agency to postpone another attempt by at least two days.
NASA managers waited until the end of the countdown before deciding to call off the launch scheduled for 7:35 p.m. MST. It would have been the first nighttime launch in four years.
“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 Discovery’s seven astronauts.
Too many clouds prevent the necessary observation of the shuttle during its ascent, and the commander needs visibility if an emergency landing is required.
A new launch attempt was set for 6:47 p.m. MST Saturday, although weather forecasters gave the new time only a 30 percent chance of acceptable weather because of expected strong winds.
Each launch scrub costs NASA $500,000.
The best opportunity for launching over the next several days is Tuesday, shuttle weather forecaster Matt Timmermann said.
NASA had required daylight liftoffs for the three launches after the 2003 Columbia accident to make sure the agency could get good daytime photos in case debris fell from the shuttle during launch.
