Columbia Countdown Gets Started

By Fraser Cain - January 14, 2003 at 7:19 AM UTC | Missions

Under a cloak of high security, NASA began the launch countdown for the Space Shuttle

Columbia

on Monday. If all goes well, the shuttle will launch on Thursday at a secret time - the actual launch time will only be announced 24 hours beforehand. The 16-day microgravity science mission was supposed to launch last year, but cracks discovered in shuttle fuel lines kept the whole fleet grounded while a solution was found. Isreal's first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, is also due to take part in this mission.

Fraser Cain

Fraser Cain

Fraser Cain is the publisher of Universe Today, founding the website in March 1999. He's also the co-host of Astronomy Cast.