[net.columbia] *** LAUNCH ***

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.