alb@brunix.UUCP (Adam L. Buchsbaum) (04/13/85)
An hour late, and with 55 seconds to spare in its launch window, Discovery blasted off today on its five day mission. Launch was delayed twice, first by a cargo ship that had to be cleared from the SRB impact zone downrange of KSC, and then by bad weather. Nine minutes after the launch, NASA reported that the shuttle had successfully attained orbit. Shortly thereafter, its crew deploted a satellite for Telesat of Canada. Tomorrow morning, a Navy satellite is to be deployed. The space shuttle Atlantis was forced to wait out the night in Texas due to the same bad weather that delayed Discovery. NASA had hoped to have the newest shuttle arrive at KSC this morning. The Challenger is in the VAB, and it will be moved to pad 39A Monday. Four years ago today, Columbia lifted off on the beginning of STS-1.