Weather threatens Atlantis launch Thursday: NASA

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AFP) — After a two-month delay and with weather threatening, NASA hopes to launch the shuttle Atlantis and its crew of seven Thursday including a German and Frenchman on a mission to the International Space Station to deliver the European Columbus space lab.

NASA started fueling the space shuttle Atlantis's external fuel tank ahead of a possible launch despite concerns weather could cause a delay, a NASA spokesman said.

Weather forecasters at Cape Canaveral said there was a 70 percent chance of unfavorable weather conditions at the planned time of the launch, set for 1945 GMT. They were expecting clouds and rain.

But weather patterns can change quickly in Florida, and NASA was hoping for good enough weather at launch time, spokesman...