The U.S. space agency NASA has postponed the launch of the spaceshuttle , to investigate possible damage to instrument panelsfrom lightning strikes at the launch pad.
The shuttle had beenscheduled to lift off Saturday on a 16-day mission to install aJapanese-built porch on the International Space Station. But NASA saysthe launch has been delayed at least until Sunday.
Weatherforecasters had predicted that thunderstorms could interfere withSaturday's liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center in the southeasternstate of Florida.
was to have headed into space lastmonth, but was grounded by a hydrogen fuel leak. Officials believethey have resolved the problem that occurred with a hydrogen vent lineon the launch pad.
Five spacewalks are planned during the 16-daymission to install the final component of a Japanese space module,known as Kibo, and to perform other tasks at the space station.
NASAis facing a September 2010 deadline to complete construction of theJapanese lab section before the shuttle fleet is retired. Eightshuttle flights are dedicated to that construction effort.