NASA Starts Countdown on Shuttle Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA started a countdown Tuesday toward the first space shuttle flight of the year. Engineers reported no major technical problems and the weather forecast looked favorable for a Friday launch.

The countdown clock began ticking on schedule Tuesday at 9 p.m. EDT.

There was a 70 percent chance that the weather would be suitable at 7:38 p.m. EDT Friday, NASA's first opportunity to launch space shuttle Atlantis. The shuttle will carry seven astronauts on an 11-day mission to deliver a third pair of solar wings, which help power the international space station. They also will take three spacewalks to continue construction of the orbiting outpost.

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