Atlantis Set to Launch This Morning

Atlantis is set for launch late this morning for NASA's 135th and final shuttle mission, even though weather is bad.

The four-person crew of Atlantis are aboard the shuttle,  setting in for a late-morning liftoff if weather permits.

Bad weather has been threatening to scrub the late morning launch today of Atlantis.

So far, the launch is on schedule for an 10:26 a.m. CT liftoff.

Ferocious thunderstorms drenched Cape Canaveral on Thursday and more storms are expected today, prompting NASA to warn there is a 70% chance that weather will force a delay.

"Weather is not looking good for launch," shuttle weather officer Kathy Winters said.

Nearly a million people are expected to watch Atlantis roar into space from beaches along Florida's coast.