December 9th is circled on NASA’s calendar as the target launch date for the space shuttle Atlantis. It’s hoped the orbiter will reach for the stars at 3:21 p.m. EST on Sunday. For the moment, Atlantis is sitting on the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The shuttle had been scheduled for blast-off on Thursday until a problem was detected in a fuel cutoff sensor system inside Atlantis and its external fuel tank. A Saturday afternoon meeting is to decide for certain if a Sunday launch will take place.

Getting the blame for the launch delay are two sensors that gave false readings on Thursday. A third sensor failed after the tank was drained of fuel. The fuel cutoff sensor system is one of several that protects the shuttle’s main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.

PHOTO CREDIT: NASA.gov - the space shuttle Atlantis on the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Once the mission is underway, Atlantis will be gone 11 days. Its destination will be the International Space Station to work with ground teams to install and activate the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory. The new lab will expand the station’s scientific research capabilities.