NASA begins countdown for Monday launch of space shuttle Atlantis, excellent weather forecast

NASA begins countdown for space shuttle launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The countdown clocks at NASA are ticking toward a Monday launch of space shuttle Atlantis.

Officials said Friday everything is going well at the launch pad. Even the forecast is good, with 90 percent odds of fine flying weather.

Atlantis is loaded with spare parts for the International Space Station. The shuttle will carry up six astronauts and return with seven. The seventh, Nicole Stott, has been living on the station since the end of August.

Liftoff is set for 2:28 p.m. The flight could be delayed until Tuesday if an unmanned rocket with a communication satellite does not blast off Saturday as planned and is rescheduled for Sunday.

The Air Force at Cape Canaveral needs at least two days between launches.

On the Net:

NASA: www.nasa.gov/mission(underscore)pages/shuttle/main/index.html