GEORGE DILLER: This is shuttle launch control at T-3 hours and holding,
with one hour, one minute remaining in this 2 ½ hour built-in hold.
It's during this time that the Final Inspection Team is at the launch pad, and
they have been working their way down the entire fixed service structure
looking for any potential ice formation or anything of issue on the external tank.
In the countdown, we're not working any issues at all, and watching weather which we're cautiously
optimistic that the front will behave in such a way as it approaches that it will still cut
us enough slack to launch during our 10-minute window today.
A couple of hours before launch, we'll be doing weather reconnaissance and actually we think our
biggest area of concern will not be at the launch pad, but most likely our
return-to-launch-site conditions at the Shuttle Landing Facility,
where we have a chance for showers and low clouds.
It looked like the crosswind threat has now diminished to the extent that that's
probably not going to be a factor, but the chance for broken clouds or an
overcast with showers within 20 nautical miles of the runway could be the
biggest issue weather-wise.