Problems Appear Solved; Shuttle Liftoff Set Today
NASA advanced toward a launching tonight of the Atlantis space shuttle as the Pentagon expressed renewed confidence in the rocket steering system of the military spy satellite aboard the craft.
The Defense Department’s qualms about sending up the satellite diminished Saturday after data analyses ruled out the likelihood of widespread equipment problems.
Pentagon officials initially said they would consider another launch delay--the second in less than a week--if engineers could not find anything wrong with the guidance unit that was removed from the satellite booster.
Later, following a top-level meeting, they said uncertainty over the cause of the trouble would not delay liftoff.
The $300-million missile-warning satellite aboard Atlantis could end up in the wrong place in space if the rocket steering system faltered.
Weather forecasters cast a shadow over the planned 3:31 p.m. PST liftoff. They said there was a 60% chance of favorable conditions at launch time. Rain, low clouds and high winds were expected.
The countdown itself was going well, NASA said.
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