Atlantis Launch called off Due to Ernesto Threat

Taking note of The National Hurricane Center's forecast of tropical storm Ernesto moving towards Florida and the Kennedy Space Center, the NASA officials have decided to call off the Atlantis Space Shuttle launch scheduled on Tuesday.

The forecast made by the National Hurricane Center's cited Ernesto's track within 15 miles of the Kennedy Space Center. Thus the center stood a 60 percent chance of facing Ernesto winds blowing at approximately at 39 mph. However, the shuttle is not safe for winds more than 45 mph according to the NASA rules.

It was declared early today that the tropical storm Ernesto is soon taking the shape of a hurricane and is blowing towards central Florida and the space center.

It may be recalled that Atlantis was earlier scheduled to launch on the August 27. The launch was then halted to examine the potential damage from a lightning strike on the launching pad last week Later the shuttle takeoff time was set to at 3:42 p.m. on Tuesday for the mission of completion of the International Space Station. The project had come to a stand still after the shuttle Colombia disaster in 2003.

The shuttle is now heading for its 12 hour trip back to its hanger, the Vehicle Assembly Building till the time the threats posed by the storm subside. For the rollback first the fuel made up of volatile liquid hydrogen and oxygen is drained. The explosive bolts and other connectors are then disconnected before the shuttle is moved on a mobile transporter.

Meanwhile, Russia is ready with its launch of Space shuttle Soyuz. This means that the effective launching window narrows down for the NASA Atlantis takeoff. Though the Atlantis can be launched as late as September 13, this entails Russians delaying the Soyuz launching. The Russians are opposing later dates to avoid a riskier Soyuz return at night.

This entire tiff actually closes the window period of Atlantis launch by September 7. If the weather permits NASA officials will check the possibility of trying to fly the shuttle again by Sunday, September 3.