Countdown to the planned launch of Discovery is continuing at Kennedy Space Center today and mission managers are meeting to decide whether to proceed with plans to send up the shuttle and seven astronauts Wednesday night.
A traditional prelaunch news conference will be held at the conclusion of that meeting. The briefing is scheduled for 11 a.m., and you can watch it live here in The Flame Trench. Simply click the NASA TV box on the righthand side of the page to launch our NASA TV viewer and live coverage. And be sure to refresh this page for periodic updates.
Discovery and its crew are slated to blast off from Launch Complex 39A during a window that will open at 9:15 p.m. and close at 9:25 p.m. Wednesday. Launch-time is set for 9:20 p.m.
The weather forecast for launch looks good. Air Force meteorologists say there is a 90 percent chance conditions will be acceptable for flight.
You can click here to get the Official Launch Forecast from the Air Force 45th Space Wing Weather Squadron.
A three-day countdown picked up at 7 p.m. Sunday -- about four hours after the crew arrived for final launch preparations.
Work at the launch pad is going well. The rear engine compartment has been closed out for flight and a faulty range safety command receiver has been swapped out. The installed spare was successfully retested.
Almost two dozen Composite Overwrap Pressure Vessels have gone through initial pressurization without problems. The launch pad, consequently, will be closed to all but essential personnel for the remainder of the countdown.
The spherical tanks hold gasses that are used to pressurize shuttle propulsion systems. An industry-wide concern over burst potential has prompted NASA to mitigate any risk by doing a two-stage pressurization.
The tanks will be brought up to flight pressure on launch day.
Space news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral 
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