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NASA preparing for Thursday night's shuttle launch |
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Written by asap
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Thursday, 07 December 2006 |
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 A gloomy forecast isn't stopping NASA from making final preparations for Thursday night's shuttle launch.
NASA began moving the scaffolding that protects space shuttle Discovery and readied for launch. Fueling of the external tank began as scheduled at 11:41 a.m.
The launch beneath a nearly full moon is set for 9:35 p.m. EST with the shuttle and its seven astronauts headed to the international space station.
This is the first planned night launch in four years.
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POOR FORECAST
The official likelihood of good weather is only 40 percent and that drops to 30 percent Friday, nudging back up to 40 percent  Saturday. The biggest problem is a bank of low clouds that are sticking around because of a cold front. On top of that, all three overseas emergency landing sites in Spain and France also have bleak forecasts.
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LAUNCH WINDOW
NASA has until Dec. 17 to launch the shuttle so Discovery won't be in orbit when the new year starts. NASA worries about a computer change-of-date problem.
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THE MISSION
Spacewalking astronauts will rewire the space station. Discovery will also a 2-ton addition and replace one of the station's three crew members.
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