2:04 AM CST
The first landing opportunity (4:07 AM CST @ KSC in Florida) has now officially been waived off, due to rain showers and thunderstorms in Florida. The Shuttle will orbit for another 1.5 hours while NASA decides what instruction to give the astronauts regarding landing preparation. There is some optimism that the thunderstorms currently in Florida are moving out to sea and will be far enough away (beyond 30 NM of the landing site) so as not to disrupt the 2nd landing opportunity (5:43 AM CST @ KSC).
That said, weather at Edwards AFB in California is clear, with light winds (7 knots) straight down the runway (Runway 22). If this (third) landing opportunity is used, 7:12 AM CST would be the Shuttle’s landing time.
The NASA commentator mentioned that if this track is used, the Space Shuttle Discovery will be visible to residents along the U.S. Gulf Coast in Texas and Florida as she enters the atmosphere en route to land.
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