Discovery ready for launch

NASA resolved the last few technical concerns about Discovery and pronounced it ready for launch today on the first space shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster 2 1/2 years ago.

"Obviously, it is utterly crucial for NASA, for the nation, for our space program to fly a safe mission," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said Tuesday after one final meeting of the space agency’s managers on whether to go ahead with liftoff. He added, "We have done everything that we know to do."

Read the complete story . (Chicago Tribune)