Shuttle fueling under way

Launch crews are fueling the shuttle Atlantis for launch.

The fueling operation began at 2:49 a.m. It will take approximately six hours to complete the pumping of a half million gallons of cryogenic propellants into the tank. The work got started a little late, but in time to allow for on-time liftoff.

4:50 a.m. update: Tanking continues with no apparent major technical issues. Atlantis is aglow at the pad. A storm cell out to sea east and slightly north of the pad is generating some lightning flashes. However, the weather forecast remains 70 percent go for launch time later this morning.

Meanwhile, you can weigh in on the NASA launch decision in our space forums this morning.