The latest from NASA

Family and Friends of STS-119,
Managers and engineers from the Space Shuttle Program and several other offices within NASA met today at the Johnson Space Center to discuss progress on the flow control valve issue which has delayed the launch of STS-119. After another lengthy meeting, Wednesday, 11 March appears to be a strong possibility. As always, the Agency Flight Readiness Review (FRR) has the ultimate authority to officially set the launch date. The FRR will reconvene at the Kennedy Space Center this Friday, 6 March, to consider the results of today’s Space Shuttle Program decision.
If STS-119 launches on 11 March, launch time will be approximately 9:20 p.m. EDT. Based on today’s decision, the crew will enter quarantine again tonight at the Johnson Space Center crew quarters. If the Agency FRR approves an 11 March launch, we will fly to the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday afternoon. There, we will perform a final review of flight procedures and perform flight training in the Shuttle Training Aircraft.
Please contact our crew secretary, Nuria Aguilar, if you have any changes to your plans to attend our launch.
Thanks for supporting STS-119 and have a great week.
Lee J. Archambault, Colonel, USAF
STS-119 Commander