Launch team is "go" for flight; ice issue overcome

The launch team has pushed ahead, despite a shrinking ice chunk on a liquid hydrogen fuel line. "Everything is go for launch this morning," said the NASA TV commentator.

All launch teams cleared the shuttle for launch. Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters cleared Discovery for launch, though clouds are approaching the pad.

"The ice is diminishing in size. It is dissipating. All appears to be go," said the NASA TV commentator.

Weather conditions were green for launch some 20 minutes before the scheduled 11:38 a.m. EDT liftoff.

The launch team said they intended to waive an ice debris rule to deal with the apparently melting piece of frozen water on the fuel line. The ice hunk grew at the spot near where the pipe connects to the orbiter. The launch team got agreement from everyone involved in the review that the rationale is solid for flight.

The final inspection team had gone back to the pad for a second look at the ice, an unusual move. They took pictures, sent them back to the Launch Control Center and the engineering and safety teams studied them for a while before a decision was made.

The ice appeared to be 4 inches by 1.5 inches in diameter, according to NASA.

The shuttle team also looked into a slight reading of hazardous gas in the aft of the orbiter. An "extremely minor" measurement of liquid hydrogen gas in the aft compartment is the issue. The early analysis is that it won't be an issue for launch because the amount is so tiny.