The Astrovan, carrying the STS-135 crew, passes the launch control center and press site en route to the pad.
So far, everything is going well for today’s launch. Tanking was completed at 5 am without incident, and no technical problems have been reported. The forecast still has only a 30% chance of acceptable weather, but the weather so far is cooperating, with some breaks in the clouds and even a little bit of sun this morning. There’s a subtly growing sense of optimism that the weather just might hold this morning, although liftoff is not for more than three hours. The crew left crew quarters at a little after 7:30 am and boarded the Astrovan to go to the pad. Right now they are in the process of boarding the shuttle, as things by all appearances are going as planned.