Atlantis Launch Appears Iffy Because of Weather.

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. — With its aging space shuttle fleet facing mandatory retirement in two years, NASA planned to launch the first of 13 final flights today after a two-month delay.

Vincent Sabathier, a space policy analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, said the shuttles could have trouble keeping up with NASA's launch timeline.

"With all of the launches you have problems," Sabathier said. "It does not run smoothly. You need to investigate further. That's the nature of the business. So, you have delays most of the time."

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