Systems are ‘go’ for shuttle launch

NASA continued a launch countdown for space shuttle Atlantis with no major technical problems looming and a promising weather forecast for today’s scheduled launch from the Kennedy Space Center.

Forecasters said there was an 80% chance that the weather would allow NASA to launch its first shuttle mission of the year at 4:38 p.m. PDT.

During the 11-day mission, Atlantis and its seven astronauts will deliver a new segment and a pair of energy-producing solar panels to the International Space Station. Astronaut Clay Anderson will replace Sunita Williams as the U.S. representative at the outpost.