NASA reverses rollback, aims for Sept. 6-7 launch

With Atlantis on the way back to the launch pad, it appears that NASA will be in position to make two launch attempts before a Sept. 7 deadline. Those would come on Sept. 6 and, if needed, Sept. 7. NASA is outlining its plans during a 4:30 p.m. news conference.

"There's no trepidation in my mind at all about the decision," launch director Mike Leinbach says.

Leinbach says next Wednesday or Thursday are realistic targets for launch attempts as long as everything goes well between now and then. Those are the last two dates of the current launch window that don't conflict with an upcoming Russian Soyuz mission.

A lot of factors will play into any launch date determinations. That includes what happens here once Tropical Storm Ernesto actually crosses central Florida over the next day or two and ongoing negotiations with the Russians about the Soyuz flight.

More to come.