The Nation : Launch Weather Doubtful

Shuttle Challenger and its crew of seven, including teacher Sharon Christa McAuliffe, got a “go” to blast off this morning, but weather threatened to delay the launch. Technicians rolled a protective service platform back from Challenger to start final preparations. The weather outlook for launch at 6:36 a.m. PST was described as marginal and officials said the final decision whether to delay the flight until Monday might turn into a cliffhanger. Air Force Lt. Francine Lockwood said there is a possibility of excessive clouds at an altitude of 2,500 feet, which would hinder crew visibility in the event of an emergency return to the spaceport.