Everything going NASA’s way for Monday launch of space shuttle Atlantis, good weather expected

NASA’s shuttle launch countdown going smoothly

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s countdown is going smoothly and even the weather is looking exceptionally good for Monday’s space shuttle launch.

Atlantis is scheduled to blast off at 2:28 p.m. Monday with tons of spare parts for the International Space Station. Forecasters put the odds of acceptable weather at 90 percent.

That’s also good news for Kennedy Space Center’s first “tweetup.” About 100 space fans have gathered to report the launch on Twitter.

NASA test director Steve Payne said Sunday morning that even though everything seems to be lining up perfectly, he and his team are “always waiting for the shoe to drop” and always vigilant.

Atlantis’ crew of six will spend Thanksgiving in orbit. They will return to Earth with a seventh astronaut, Nicole Stott, who’s been living at the space station for nearly three months.