At T-9 minutes and holding, the STS-131 launch countdown continues its march toward liftoff of space shuttle Discovery at 6:21 a.m. EDT. The mission’s seven astronauts are safely strapped in and the side hatch is closed and sealed for flight. Weather is excellent and expected to remain that way during this final hour before launch.
During this hold, the mission management team will conduct their final “go/no-go” poll, and the countdown enters the home stretch.
This hold in the countdown will last for approximately 45 minutes.