Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: July 1, 2006, 3:49 p.m. EDT
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

The countdown for the Space Shuttle Discovery launch begins at 5 p.m. today at the T-43 hour mark. Launch remains scheduled for Saturday at 3:49 p.m.

Discovery's flight crew is relaxing today and reviewing its flight data file. The Launch Complex 39 avian detection and monitoring continues through launch.

On Tuesday afternoon, a lightning strike was detected near the south perimeter of Pad B. Discovery was not powered up and was not struck. There was one report of hail that was not confirmed. Initial walkdowns indicate there was some damage to facility electrical equipment supporting liquid hydrogen operations, but no vehicle damage was reported. None of the damage is expected to impact Discovery's launch. Further assessments of the shuttle and facilities will continue today.

U.S. Air Force weather officers are forecasting a 60-percent chance of weather prohibiting a launch attempt on Saturday. The primary weather concerns are anvil clouds from inland thunderstorms, cumulus clouds within 10 nautical miles of the flight path, and showers within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility. The forecast is similar in the event of a 24-hour delay.

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