Shuttle cleared for 2nd launch try

June 16, 2009

After waiting three hours for thunderstorms and lightning to clear the area, NASA is pressing head with a launch attempt at 5:40 a.m. EDT. Fueling of the space shuttle began shortly after 11 p.m., nearly three hours behind schedule. NASA hopes to make up the time and be ready to launch in less than seven hours. Next milestone? Learning if the repair for the fuel leak that stymied the first launch attempt on Saturday wil work.

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It may be a while before NASA finds out if it fixed a problem that caused a hydrogen leak during the first attempt to launch shuttle Endeavour four days ago. Lightning and thunderstorms at the Florida launch site are preventing NASA from even filling the shuttle's fuel tank. Time is running out to finish launch preparations for a 5:40 a.m. blastoff.