Atlantis' Tanking Test Today

The start of space shuttle Atlantis' tanking test today will be later than originally scheduled due to storms that moved through the area of NASA's Kennedy Space Center yesterday afternoon and evening.

Filling of Atlantis' external fuel tank with more than 500,000 gallons of super cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen now is set to begin at about 11 a.m. EDT.

Initial reports indicated that the storms produced three lightning strikes within a quarter mile of Launch Pad 39A, but preliminary assessments show no damage to either Atlantis or the pad. Engineers are reviewing data to confirm that assessment.