NASA proceeding with 'rocket's red glare' Tuesday

NASA has decided to go ahead with tomorrow's Fourth-of-July launch of the space shuttle Discovery, even though a four-inch piece of foam insulation (shown) was found earlier today to have detached from the shuttle's external fuel tank.

The launch will be the first shuttle flight in nearly one year.

First launched in 1984, Discovery is the oldest space shuttle still in service.

Saultite Roberta Bondar flew on Discovery during Mission STS-42 in January 22, 1992.

Before NASA announced the resumption of shuttle flights last month, the agency's chief engineer and its office of safety and mission assurance argued that Discovery should be kept on the ground until more changes are made to its external fuel tank.

As of tonight, there's a 60 percent chance of favorable launch weather for tomorrow and a 40 percent chance of favorable weather for Wednesday.

If the weather cooperates, tomorrow's liftoff will be the first Independence Day launch of a space shuttle.

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