Atlantis' Tanking Test Now Under Way

The launch team at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida began the tanking test for space shuttle Atlantis' external fuel tank at 12:15 p.m. EDT. The team plans to fill Atlantis' external tank with about 535,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and then begin draining the tank tonight. This will support the plan to transport Atlantis' payload to Launch Pad 39A Thursday evening.

Last night, teams first changed today's scheduled 7 a.m. start after severe storms delayed preparations. Then overnight, a power substation that supports the launch pad went offline at about 3 a.m., causing a further delay in beginning the test.

Meanwhile, other engineers have been assessing three lightning strikes within a quarter mile of Launch Pad 39A during yesterday's storms, but preliminary data indicate no damage to either Atlantis or the pad. Engineers are reviewing data to confirm that assessment.