[sarex] STS-114 READY FOR LAUNCH

["ARTHUR Z. ROWE" <N1ORC@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-114, NASA's Return to 
Flight mission, is set for today at 10:39 a.m. EDT.

Follow the countdown live at the Virtual Launch Control Center 
<http://www1.nasa.gov/returntoflight/launch/launch-vlcc.html>

The launch pad's Rotating Service Structure (RSS) was rolled away from 
Discovery at 3:38 p.m. on Monday. When in place, the giant enveloping 
appendage is used to install payloads into an orbiter's cargo bay and 
provide protection from inclement weather. With the RSS now out of the 
way, propellant loading is set to begin after midnight Tuesday morning 
with the pumping of more than 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and 
hydrogen into the vehicle's orange External Tank.

The chance of Kennedy weather cooperating for the launch has increased 
to 80 percent.

First Lady Laura Bush will join other dignitaries and VIPs at Kennedy 
for the Return to Flight liftoff, White House Press Secretary Scott 
McClellan announced earlier today.
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