NASA Hopes for Wednesday Launch

NASA is planning to delay the launch of two unmanned moon probes to give the space shuttle Endeavour another shot at takeoff, Space.com reports. The shuttle was grounded last week because of a hydrogen gas leak. Mission managers will make the final decision later today, but expect Endeavour to leave Cape Canaveral at 5:40am Wednesday.

The lunar probes would then leave Friday to hunt for water ice. "What we are trying to do in the agency is maximize our launch opportunities," a NASA official explained. The schedule is so tight that if bad weather delays repairs to the shuttle or its launch pad by even a few hours, Endeavour’s departure may be pushed off until next month.
(More NASA stories.)