Space Shuttle Discovery launch put off
Foreign Desk Report

CAPE CANAVERAL—Thick low clouds over the launch site forced NASA late Thursday to scrub a night launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery just minutes before the planned blastoff.
The seven astronauts — two women and five men, including Sweden’s first astronaut — were strapped into their seats ready for liftoff, but low-lying clouds forced a last-minute postponement of the 9:35 pm (0235 GMT Friday) blastoff. “We gave it our best shot and didn’t get clear and convincing evidence that the cloud ceiling had cleared for us,” launch director Mike Leinbach told the crew. “We have to declare a scrub at this time.” The shuttle commander, Mark Polansky, responded. “Thanks to the team for all the hard work, try not to be too disappointed and we will be ready to support for the next time we get a chance,” he said. National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials said it would make a new attempt to launch the shuttle on its mission to the International Space Station (ISS) at 8:47 pm Saturday.