Monday, August 8 2005 13:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Houston: Space shuttle Discovery's return to earth has been delayed by at least 90 minutes due to low clouds at the shuttle landing facility at Cape Canaveral, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced today (August 8, 2005). NASA managers have advised the seven astronauts of the space shuttle to attempt landing at the second opportunity at 1551 IST hoping for the sky to clear up.

"Due to low clouds at the Kennedy Space Center landing site, Mission Control Houston has waved off the first landing opportunity for Space Shuttle Discovery today," a NASA statement said.

Commander Eileen Collins and the rest of the crew aboard Discovery are still working through their landing checklist, working toward the second opportunity.

If the crew gets the go-ahead from Mission Control for the second landing opportunity, Collins and Pilot Jim Kelly will execute an engine burn that drops Discovery from orbit at 1444 IST.

If the shuttle cannot touchdown here, it can land alternate landing strips in California or New Mexico.