The Shuttle Discovery on the Launch Pad (note its size compared to the van that appears in the picture)
Click on image for full size
NASA
Weather Cooperates with Discovery Launch
News story originally written on August 8, 1997
The shuttle Discovery was launched August 7th at 10:41 EDT. NASA officials were worried that bad weather would interfere with the launch.
One helicopter had to be put up to check visibility, but other than that everything with the weather was fine.
Astronauts already released a science satellite that will study the Earth's atmosphere. The 10-day mission also includes time for testing a small robotic arm identical to the one that will be used on the International Space Station.
This will be Discovery's 23rd flight in space. After this flight, Discovery will be tied with shuttle Columbia for the most flights in space!
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