The forecast looks good for Friday's planned 2:20 p.m. launch of Atlantis, as Kennedy Space Center teams prepare to pick up the countdown at 4 p.m. today. "Our vehicle systems are in great shape," NASA Test Director Steve Payne said this morning. "Our launch countdown preparations are going well."
Air Force meteorologists predict a 70 percent chance of favorable weather conditions, with a chance of a low cloud ceiling that could violate visibility rules.
Click here for the 45th Space Wing's official forecast.
If the the first launch attempt scrubs, the forecast is similar through the weekend, with a chance of strong crosswinds Sunday.
There are no weather concerns at emergency landing sites in California and New Mexico, and one of three sites in Europe (Moron, Spain) also looks good.
Conditions Friday are expected to be dry and a relatively cool 80 degrees, comfortable for crowds gathering to watch one of the last three scheduled shuttle launches.
Atlantis and a crew of six plan to fly a 12-day mission to the International Space Station, hauling up a Russian module, new batteries and spare parts including a space-to-ground antenna.
Launch teams can make four attempts in five days before standing down for the planned May 20 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station of a GPS satellite atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket.
Based on a Friday launch, Atlantis' return to KSC would be expected at 8:36 a.m. May 26.
IMAGE: The Atlantis crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Monday evening. Credit: Craig Rubadoux, Florida Today.
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