THE Discovery space shuttle is counting down for blast-off, with NASA managers confident that last minute hitches would not delay today’s launch.

The Discovery space shuttle was being prepared for blast-off today, with NASA managers confident that last minute hitches would not delay tomorrow’s launch.

Today’s report into the decisions that led to Nasa’s Columbia shuttle disaster will not pull any punches, officials warned.

Nasa is making plans to return the space shuttle to orbit as early has the autumn and has instructed engineers to be prepared to make any “corrective actions” recommended by the board now investigating the Columbia tragedy.