The US space agency will make another attempt on Sunday to launch the space shuttle Endeavour after a dramatic lightning storm forced it to postpone the flight in the latest blow to the seven-astronaut mission.
With just nine hours to go before liftoff, NASA said the launch would be scrapped, citing 11 lightning strikes near the Cape Canaveral launch site during a powerful electrical storm late on Friday.
"We decided we are going to take 24 more hours to continue to review our data," said Mike Moses, the head of the mission.
Moses later announced that the launch was rescheduled for 0713 pm (2313 GMT) on Sunday, and said the weather forecast calls for a 60 per cent chance of acceptable conditions for takeoff.
After the lightning storm overnight, NASA technical teams were dispatched to examine the shuttle for damage.
The launch pad is equipped with a lightning protection system of wires that is intended to steer bolts away from the shuttle.
Spokesman George Diller said there was "no damage found on the shuttle or on the pad systems," but that engineers needed to examine whether the lightning could have caused other problems.
{{/usCountry}}Spokesman George Diller said there was "no damage found on the shuttle or on the pad systems," but that engineers needed to examine whether the lightning could have caused other problems.
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