By Alabama Public Radio
Tuscaloosa, AL – A University of Alabama graduate will be at the controls of the first space shuttle to launch in more than two years when Discovery blasts off just after 9:30 Tuesday morning. Tuesday's launch will be the second mission for pilot James Kelly. The 41-year-old received his master's degree in aerospace engineering from the University in 1996. Meanwhile, Discovery's fuel sensor system seems to be working properly. NASA officials have been monitoring the system on the external tank throughout the fueling process. It was a problem with one of those sensors that initially caused the launch to be canceled. Engineers never did find the exact cause, but they finally decided to go ahead with Tuesday's launch anyway.