Bad weather forces NASA to call off Discovery launch

Cape Canavera (Fla), Dec 8: NASA postponed space shuttleDiscovery's liftoff last night because of thick, low clouds at theFlorida launch site.

The next opportunity for flight is at 0743 hrs IST tomorrow butmeteorologists were forecasting a 90 per cent chance of another delaydue to high winds stirred by a cold front pushing through centralFlorida.

''We gave it the best shot and did not get clear,'' said NASA launch director Mike Leinbach.

Replied Discovery commander Mark Polansky, ''Try not to be toodisappointed and we will be ready to support the next time we get achance.'' NASA is hoping to launch its third mission in six months andget a jump on the looming deadline to finish International SpaceStation assembly before the shuttle fleet is retired in 2010.

The launch will be NASA's first in darkness since before the 2003Columbia disaster. Managers recently lifted the ban on night launches,imposed to ensure cameras had good lighting to spot any debris fallingoff the shuttle's fuel tank.

Debris damaged Columbia, triggering the breakup of the ship andthe death of its seven astronauts as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere.

On the last flight, astronauts delivered new solar arrays toprovide power for additional modules scheduled to be installed nextyear. The tricky task of wiring the arrays into the station's powergrid falls to Discovery's crew. At least 14 more missions are needed tofinish the 100 billion dollar outpost.

Discovery's flight is scheduled to last 12 days.

In addition to Polansky, the five-man, two-woman crew consists ofSweden's first astronaut, Christer Fuglesang, pilot William Oefelein,flight engineer Robert Curbeam and mission specialists NicholasPatrick, Joan Higginbotham and Sunita Williams.

Only Polansky and Curbeam have made previous spaceflights.

Reuters