The Countdown Begins

The countdown for space shuttle Discovery’s STS-131 launch officially began at 3 a.m. EDT. This morning’s countdown status briefing at 10 a.m. will be broadcast live on NASA TV and on the Web at www.nasa.gov/ntv.

Discovery’s seven astronauts arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Thursday, touching down on Shuttle Landing Facility’s runway in a modified Gulfstream II jet.