KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (FOX NEWS) -- Weather forced NASA on Monday to scrub a launch of space shuttle Endeavour, marking the spacecraft's third takeoff postponement in three days and fifth since mid-June.
Space shuttle Endeavour is shown Monday shortly after the day's launch was called off.
Monday's attempt was scheduled for 6:51 p.m., but storm cells with lightning were within 20 nautical miles of the launch area, violating safety guidelines, NASA said.
"The vehicle and our teams were ready, but the weather has just bitten us again," launch director Pete Nickolenko told the shuttle crew.
"We understand, Pete. That's the nature of our business," Mark Polansky, shuttle commander, responded. "Like we said before, when the time is right, we'll be here and we'll be ready."
NASA said it will next try to launch Endeavour at 6:03 p.m. Wednesday.
Weather forced the cancellation of launch attempts Saturday and Sunday. And last month, two launch attempts were scrubbed because of a hydrogen leak.
On Sunday, lightning and cumulus clouds violated guidelines in case of an emergency landing and sent astronauts back to their quarters for the night. Cumulus clouds are tied to volatile weather such as lightning and tornadoes.
On Friday, 11 lightning strikes hit within a half-mile of the launch pad, scratching Saturday's launch.
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