Discovery rained off as Monday window closes

by Stevie Smith - Apr 20 2010, 05:59

NASA will once again attempt to bring the space shuttle Discovery safely home today after inclement weather conditions foiled Monday’s scheduled re-entry, leaving the spacecraft and its crew of seven circling high above the Earth for an extra day.

“An unexpected cloud ceiling settled over the Kennedy Space Center area preventing space shuttle Discovery’s first landing opportunity,” confirmed NASA officials via an official statement.

NASA has said it is hoping for improved conditions in and around Florida throughout Tuesday and will be looking to implement landing procedures at approximately 0730 local time if the weather holds.

However, if conditions deteriorate, it is likely Discovery will be re-routed to NASA’s back-up landing strip in California – a move that would alter the vehicle’s flight path from east to south and prevent the rare sight of watching a shuttle streak through the sky over Canada and the U.S. on its way to Cape Canaveral. 

Once Discovery is safely home, only three scheduled shuttle missions will remain before the long-serving fleet is officially retired at the end of 2010 – at which point each individual vehicle will be sold and used as a display attraction.

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