NE could see launch of space shuttle

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The all clear has been given for the early Tuesday morning launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery in Florida.

And, part of the dramatic lift-off may be seen right here in Southern New England.

You'll have to stay up late for this one-of-a-kind show, and it may be one of the last opportunities for you to see a shuttle launch.

The Space Shuttle Discovery is set to blast off from Florida into orbit at 1:36 a-m. a few minutes after liftoff, we'll be able to see it here in Southern New England.

It's going to be following the eastern seaboard right along this way.

At approximately 1:44 a-m, the shuttle will be passing to our southeast at a speed of more than 17 thousand miles an hour as it heads to the international space station.

"It'll be vey low in the horizon, but hopefully we'll be able to see the streets of the actual engine on the space shuttle. hopefully, we'll also be able to see the engine cutoff where the main engine fuel tank will fall off."

Look to the south-southeast at about 1:44am, and again it'll be very low in the horizon, so you want to be up high or where there are no buildings or trees in the way and binoculars will give you a better view but what will it look like?

"Really bright, it's going to look like a really fast moving star across the night sky."

There's only a few more shuttle launches scheduled, before the program may lose funding and this is the last night launch scheduled.

Of course it's all weather permitting.

We're expecting partly cloudy skies Monday night and of course you should make sure the launch isn't delayed.