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-129 prelaunch briefing. With the unfortunate scrub of the Atlas rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station today, space shuttle Atlantis is cleared for launch at 2:28 p.m. EST Monday.
"It was a really smooth meeting … Atlantis is ready to go," Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager said. (There was) "a unanimous vote to proceed with the launch countdown."
Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director said, "… We’re right on the money. We’re not tracking any issues with the vehicle, flight elements or ground systems. I’m happy to report we’re ready to go."
Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters reported that the forecast continues to be very favorable for launch day with only a 10-percent chance that weather will be a concern for liftoff and the fueling of Atlantis’ external tank.
Weather also is looking good for the transatlantic abort, or TAL, sites where the shuttle could land in the unlikely event of an emergency. The only issue Winters mentioned was the possibility of some high seas where the solid rocket booster recovery ships are stationed.
On Sunday at about 5:30 p.m., the Rotating Service Structure that protects the shuttle from inclement weather will be rolled away. Loading of propellants into the external tank is scheduled to begin at around 5 a.m. on Monday.
Tune in tomorrow for the L-1 countdown status briefing at no earlier than 10 a.m. which will be aired on NASA TV and found on the Web at www.nasa.gov/ntv.