Additional analysis of shuttle systems and the launch pad following a lightning strike on Friday 25 August means the lift off of Shuttle Atlantis, originally scheduled for 2030GMT today and then delayed to 2004GMT Monday, could be delayed a further 24hr to Tuesday.
NASA's shuttle managers held a Mission Management Team (MMT) teleconference on Saturday 26 August to discuss the latest information they had about potential effects from the lightning strike at the launch pad.
NASA says that "at this point there are no indications of damage from the strike". While several teams were able to clear their shuttle systems of any concerns of impact from the strike, including the orbiter and external tank teams, the solid rocket booster (SRB) analysts had no data because its systems were not switched on at the time of the lightning bolt incident.
Mission managers decided to give the teams extra time today to look at all available data and determine whether the SRBs could have seen high currents or voltage.
The MMT will meet again at 2200GMT Sunday 27 August, instead of 1400GMT as previously scheduled. No work will be done to preclude a launch attempt Monday, however the additional analysis will likely move the launch to Tuesday. If it is determined that all systems are go for a Monday launch the weather around KSC is expected to only present a 20 percent chance of "no go".
Source: FlightGlobal.com
