Another Delay for STS-122?

Space shuttle Atlantis was scheduled to lift off tomorrow afternoon on STS-122, but the weather may well delay the launch. The same storm system that spread death and destruction across the Southeast yesterday is now headed for Florida.

STS-122, of course, has already been delayed since early December, 2007, when a faulty fuel sensor on the external tank forced postponement. The twin variables of an extremely complex flying machine and the shifting weather patterns of Florida tell much of the story of the shuttle. Conceived as a cost effective way to reach space regularly, the shuttle never accomplished that goal. Its complexity required months between flights, and-- too often-- when the shuttle was ready to fly, the weather stopped the show, maybe for a day, maybe for several days, and sometimes factors combined to cause dalays of weeks.

Building a reusable spacecraft that won't be subject to such delays is the ultimate goal of many in the NewSpace industry. They have their work cut out for them.