NASA delays shuttle launch

CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA has decided to postpone the Saturday evening launch of space shuttle Endeavour to assess potential damage from lightning strikes near the launch pad.

The space agency announced its decision just after 10:30 this morning, a few minutes after fuel was supposed to begin flowing into the shuttle's giant orange tank.

NASA shuttle manager Mike Moses said 11 lightning strikes were detected within 0.3 nautical miles of the launch pad during a Friday afternoon storm.  Several of those strikes actually hit the pad's lightning deflection system.

No damage was found during initial reviews, Moses said, but the launch team wanted a little extra time to make sure that the electrical systems on Endeavour and the rocket boosters were still in good shape.

Engineers hope to try to launch again on Sunday, assuming no damage is found.  The weather forecast for Sunday is slightly better than today's poor forecast, with a 60-percent chance of acceptable weather for the 7:14 p.m. launch time.

Stay with FOX 13 for updates from the Cape tomorrow afternoon.