Science and Health

NASA fuels space shuttle Discovery for last launch

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-11-05 19:08

The space shuttle Discovery STS-133 sits on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida November 4, 2010. NASA postponed shuttle Discovery's launch to Friday to wait out bad weather from an approaching cold front, officials said. [Photo/Agencies]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA is fueling space shuttle Discovery for one last liftoff.

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Before sunrise Friday, the launch team began filling the massive fuel tank for a mid-afternoon liftoff. It's the closest NASA has come to sending Discovery and a crew of six to the International Space Station, after nearly a week of delays.

Thursday's attempt was thwarted by stormy weather. The cold front quickly moved through. Now, forecasters say there is a 70 percent chance that conditions will be acceptable at the 3:04 p.m. launch time. Wind is the main concern.

Three previous delays were caused by technical problems.

This will be the 39th and final flight of Discovery. NASA will close out its 30-year-old space shuttle program next year.