At 10 p.m., countdown clocks at Kennedy Space Center officially began ticking toward space shuttle Endeavour's Saturday evening launch.If all goes according to plan, the nearly three-day countdown will culminate in a 7:39 p.m. blastoff to start the year's third shuttle mission, after a delay because of hydrogen gas leaks during two launch attempts last month.
Endeavour's crew, led by mission commander Mark Polansky, is tasked with completing Japan's Kibo science lab by adding a third and final component known as the "front porch."
Launch teams were called to their stations at 9:30 p.m., with the countdown clock poised for activation at T minus 43 hours.
Soon after, technicians were expected to begin configuration and checkout for flight of Endeavour's avionics.
Later, preparations to load the shuttle's fuel cells with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen were scheduled to start at 3 a.m. Thursday, with the actual loading starting at 7:30 p.m. with pad 39A cleared of personnel.
The system produces electricity that powers shuttle's systems during flight.
Other processing activity includes checking backup flight systems and software, activation and testing of navigational systems, and preliminary inspections of the flight deck.
NASA will host another countdown status briefing at 10 a.m. Thursday to update the weather and Endeavour's processing.
Participating in the briefing will be Steve Payne, NASA test director, Scott Higginbotham, payload manager, and a shuttle weather officer.
As of this morning, Air Force meteorologists predicted a 40 percent chance of acceptable conditions during Saturday's 10-minute launch window, with thunderstorms or anvil clouds likely in the area.
You can watch Thursday's briefing live here by clicking on the NASA TV still image on the right side of the page to launch a viewer.
Refresh this page for updates throughout the countdown. And click here or use the black box on this page to sign up to receive text message updates on your phone on launch day.
IMAGE NOTE: Click to enlarge the image of space shuttle Endeavour after rollback of the rotating service structure, or RSS, on launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center on June 16. Against Endeavour's cockpit is seen the White Room at the end of the orbiter access arm. A launch attempt the next day was scrubbed because of a hydrogen gas leak during fueling. The RSS is scheduled to be rolled back again at 11 p.m. Friday. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
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