Countdown on for Discovery space shuttle launch

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

Last night the countdown clocks at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida were slowly ticking down towards the first manned flight since Columbia disintegrated as it returned to Earth two years ago, killing all seven crew.

Final tests were taking place to resolve problems with fuel tank sensors, a wind speed monitor and on tools to be used in a spacewalk.