Launch countdown operations are on schedule with no issues to report, according to officials at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during the STS-131 L-2 prelaunch briefing. Space shuttle Discovery is set to launch at 6:21 a.m. EDT Monday.
The team evaluated a few minor technical issues that came up late in the count but, "At the end of the day, a unanimous poll from the MMT that we’re "go" for launch," said Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager. "We’re really excited about this mission … and the science we’ll be able to get onboard for the ISS to do what it needs to do and demonstrate its true ability as a national laboratory."
Pete Nickolenko, space shuttle launch director said, "The STS-131 launch countdown is in process and everything is in good shape. The team is doing what it does best and we’re on track and ready to go for Monday."
Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters reported that the forecast continues to be very favorable for launch day with only a 20-percent chance that weather will be a concern for liftoff. The only issue Winters mentioned was the possibility of fog in the area.
The forecast also is looking good for the transatlantic abort, or TAL, sites where the shuttle could land in the unlikely event of an emergency.
On Sunday at about 9:30 a.m., the Rotating Service Structure that protects the shuttle will be rolled away. Loading of propellants into the external tank is scheduled to begin at around 9 p.m. with tanking coverage starting about 8:45 p.m. on NASA TV found on the Web at www.nasa.gov/ntv.
At 1:15 a.m. Monday, live launch coverage will kick off on NASA TV and you also can follow space shuttle Discovery’s exciting countdown to launch with NASA’s Launch Blog from inside Firing Room 3 at Kennedy’s Launch Control Center at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch_blog.html.