Avi Blizovsky
Therefore, the launch 39B at the Kennedy Space Center continues preparations for the launch of the shuttle Atlantis on flight STS-115.
After NASA overcame weather-related issues, including a lightning strike at the launch pad, and began towing the shuttle to a hangar to protect it, a towing that was eventually canceled because Hurricane Ernesto was not as strong as first feared, the shuttle will be launched this Wednesday, September 6 at 12:29 Eastern Time (19:29 Israel time). If NASA fails to launch the shuttle at this time, there will be two more opportunities in the next two days.
The decision to launch was made after a careful inspection of the ferry after the storm passed, when no serious damage was discovered. "We're back," said NASA spokesman Bill Johnson. "There was no water infiltration in all operational areas."
The six astronauts returned from their base in Houston to the Kennedy Space Center in the training plane designed for this mission. The countdown will begin on Sunday morning (US time).
