Atlantis to make early Tue. flight home

The space shuttle Atlantis atop a jumbo jet was the center of attention Sunday at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. It traveled to Fort Campbell, Ky., Monday, where it will depart early Tuesday on an early morning flight to Kennedy Space Center, weather permitting. AP Photo/Nati Harnik

The threat of afternoon thunderstorms has prolonged Atlantis' return by a third day.

"We are going to remain overnight in Kentucky ... in hopes of getting out of here bright and early in the morning," NASA spokeswoman Jennifer Tharpe said at about noon today. "The weather was just too unstable."

After a pre-dawn weather briefing Tuesday at Fort Campbell, the 747 carrying the shuttle is scheduled for takeoff at 6:15 a.m. EDT and arrive at KSC about 8:30 a.m.

NASA managers hope the aircraft can slip into KSC before thunderstorms build. Bad weather or turbulence could damage the shuttle's thermal tiles. The morning flight should allow the shuttle to avoid afternoon thunderstorms that could cut off the aircraft's escape routes.

"If they were to try to come in here and they wouldn't make it, there's no place for them to go," said manager of the KSC weather office John Madura. "They could end up stuck. It's just too risky."

Follow Atlantis' journey in The Flame Trench.

You can also track the flight here: Track NASA 905