NASA is pressing ahead with preparations for the planned July 1 launch of shuttle Discovery on the agency's second post-Columbia test flight, wrapping up work in the ship's rear engine compartment.
The aft compartment close-out work is expected to be complete late tonight or early Friday. The shuttle's hypergolic and main propulsion systems are to be pressurized for flight over the weekend.
Led by veteran astronaut Steve Lindsey, the seven astronauts destined to fly on Discovery are scheduled to arrive at Kennedy Space Center around 12:15 p.m. Tuesday. A three-day launch countdown is slated to pick up at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The 13-story-tall Rotating Service Structure at launch pad 39B will be moved away from the shuttle at 7 p.m. Friday, June 30. NASA launch engineers will begin filling the shuttle's modified external tank around 5:53 a.m. Saturday, July 1.
Lindsey and his crew are scheduled to depart crew quarters at the KSC Operations & Checkout Building at 11:58 a.m. Saturday, July 1.
Liftoff is scheduled during a 10-minute window that will open at 3:43 p.m. that day. The targeted launch time now is 3:49 p.m.
Space news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral 
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