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The shuttle is all set to fly on Saturday. That is, if the weather is fine. There is only a 40% chance of favorable weather.
The shuttle is all set to fly on Saturday. That is, if the weather is fine. There is only a 40% chance of favorable weather.
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Weather conditions are important for the actual liftoff because lightning from anvil and cumulus clouds could strike the shuttle. The clouds could also block the view of ground cameras that must track the shuttle's ascent into space. And NASA does not want to fly the shuttle through rain because water could damage the orbiter's sensitive heat shield. But the weather must also be favourable around the runway at KSC in case the shuttle encounters a major problem during launch and has to make an emergency landing. Such a manoeuvre has never been tried in the 25-year history of the space shuttle programme.