jim spellman is at the conditiondy space center. good morning, jim. >> reporter: good morning. the weather could definitely push back the launch. if they can't get it off the ground tomorrow, they will try again on saturday. it really is significant. it just brings to an end such a major period of nasa history. take a look. the shuttle program has defined american space travel for a generation. >> 3, 2, 1! >> reporter: so far, the five shuttles have taken 355 astronauts in space, builting the international space station. twice their triumphs turn to tragedy, in 2003 when columbia broke up in reentry in 1986 when challenger exlowed just after lift-off. >> we'll never forget them, nor the last time we saw them. >> the final mission will take four astronauts into space for 1 days where they will deliver spies to the international space station. >> we're delight to be here. >> the space shuttle program come to an end with, a vehicle -- vehicle 0 take humans up there is still year's a -- years away. >> we're taking steps today for human space explore afor years to cull. exploration

jim spellman is there at kennedy space center. jim, what happens in the next two hours? i know we are waiting for the weather. >> reporter: yeah good morning, pam. still saying say only a 30% chance they will be able to hit their projected take off time. they only have a ten minute window there where they can take off if the weather is that is go either way. so far the astronauts they have just latched in after fueling up overnight. the next two hours are mostly technical checks. they have to make sure everything is okay with the shuttle. the vehicle itself. the two solid rocket boosters. they will keep monitoring the weather and hopefully be able to take off. listen, there was one thing they won't do is put any astronauts here in jeopardy. conditions are not optimal they will not hesitate to scrub. >> we are looking at the weather behind you. it looks pretty mild actually. gray skies. that flag was barely moving. is a big storm headed that way? >> reporter: yeah there is storms heading this way. yesterday was terrible. downpours, heavy lightning. it was awful. much bett

jim spellman live for us this morning. we appreciate your report.is urging an over haul of science education, data by the national research council says students should focus on four main areas instead of member rising facts in many topics. the report will serve as a more focused study of engineering, life sciences, physical sciences, earth and states -- space steinses -- sciences. >>> :41. he had a horrifying dash 8:41, he had a horrifying run with the taliban. now a bay area man is back home describing his ordeal. >>> we're live in san francisco where we have downed power lines. we'll tell you how traffic is affected, where it happened and the surprising cause behind it all. >>> taking a live look at the big board on wall street, the dow is still up triple digits right now, thanks to some strong u.s. earnings, particularly morgan stanley giving a boost. that stock is up almost 8% right now. also, some progress on dealing with the greek debt problem. right now the dow is currently up 109. the nasdaq is up 16. s&p is up 13. >>> bay area union leader

our reporter jim spellman is live at kennedy space center right now with the very latest on the weather forecast and when atlantis may liftoff, if that launch is scrubbed. good morning, jim. >> reporter: yeah, good morning to you, dave. we're only hearing, dave, that about 30% chance that this atlantis will be able to take off on time tomorrow morning scheduled for 11:46 eastern time but the weather's just not looking good. we've already had a few sprinkles today. they can't make that ten minute launch window they'll try again saturday. if that doesn't work they have to do some refueling procedures and they'll try again monday. they want to be sure of course everything is safe and optimal conditions when they takeoff. this final atlantis mission here is really going to be significant for everybody at nasa and in this community. they're going to be up there for 13 days, four person crew going to visit the international space station for the final time with the shuttle drop off some supplies there. do a few experiments. it's really such an end of an era here that i think until this -- whe

jim spellman at ken day space center. thank you. >>> the pentagon says it will comply with the federal ruling to immediately end the military's don't ask don't tell policy. the ruling from the ninth circuit court of appeals in san francisco orders the obama administration to immediately end enforcement of the ban on gays serving openly in the military. congress had already voted to repeal the ban and the pentagon is expected to certify the change this summer. >>> all right. time now 5:49. let's get you to where you need to go. sal's an expert of that. >> yes, sir. we're trying to help you out in all the bay area counties. let's go ahead and take a look at alameda county westbound bay bridge and see a little bit of -- i wouldn't eastbound say any sort of traffic jam just more people showing up. but the real crowd doesn't get here until after about 6:15 or 6:30 you have a few minutes here to have a cup of coffee and hang out with us a little longer. nearby interstate 880 oakland if you're trying to catch your flight at the

jim spellman is live this morning in florida and joins us with a look at what nasa accomplished during the last 30 years and what is still ahead. jim, i have to is you right off the top can you lay out the mood there as soon as atlantis touched down this morning? >> reporter: good morning, mike. yeah, you know the mood really here the only word to describe it is bittersweet. people today still reveling in the sweet part. perfect launch two weeks ago. perfectly executed mission visit to the international space station, dropped off supplies, did a final space walk and this this morning's perfect landing here all the astronauts safe and sound back on earth. tomorrow unfortunately will come the bitter. 2100 people will get laid off tomorrow. ultimately 8,000 will lose their jobs. what the future for man space flight is still up in the air. we could have private companies getting involved, nasa's new program to get farther into space perhaps an asteroid perhaps one day to mars is out there. for the next few years at least it's really unclear what it's going to be like, mike. >> jim, for you

at kennedy space center, i'm jim spellman. >> and when atlantis lifts off, you'll be able to watch it live on your computer on abc2news.com. we'll stream it live and find a link on our home page. >>> now let's take a look at severe weather. we'll go over to china to see torrential rain. it's causing big problems. the rainy weather forced 170,000 people to evacuate. mud slides damaged a bridge, the heavy rain affected traffic in some areas are expected to get even more rain. check this out, look at these clouds hanging over colorado. heavy rains, hail, beating up adams county, leaving a trail of ice balls and water puddles alongsides of the roads. cold front moved in earlier this week setting the stage for severe summer storms. >> now, maryland's most powerful doppler radar and the forecast certified most accurate by weather rate. >> jamie, one of those days you sit on the deck, ac, you have to go where the ac is. 92 degrees right now, but the humidity is off the chart. the dew point values are up around 70. sticky, sticky conditions out there. no question about that. hazy sunshine the

in orlando, i am jim spellman. >> in our facebook conversation, we discuss how casey anthony could be free after being sentenced for lines of police. a lot of viewers are questioning the jurors a decision. here is what divorcing this morning. here is one comment. >> these you like to contribute to this topic, go to our physical exam page. we will be right back on our kron 4 where i >> bin laden's back. some of the awesome. that is what facebook ceo mark zuckerberg is promising to deliver.-faced but is essentially is conference to discuss salons and products. this theory is a company is one of producing the video chat feature. i >> her time for the morning bus. paris hilton's stock for was arrested paris now has a for a new armed guards and has installed and ran instead of your security system which includes multiple cameras and motion >> the we will be right back as the kron 4 morning news continues.

is scheeuled to last 12 days aad will -3 deliier supplies to he international space station. 3 jim spellman canaveral with more on this jim. 3 3 3 3 anothhr night 3 pf wicked eathhr leaves roofs ripped off, ann trees taken doon. 3 p joel . smith is llie in dundalk to review the damage.... that inccuded even pail. good morninggjoel d. good morning &p3 live in dundalk, jjel d. smith,,fox 45 morring news. - - 3 3& 3 pill the next aaericcn idol be -3& frrm chaam city?that's what we'reewaiting to ffnd out. out.patrice harrissis live at allpacker's wwite maash ford... wherr peopleeare hopiig foo a hancc o ake it big. &p3 -3 3 3- 3 comiig up... 3 affer serving in three wars... &ppould want to ttaeeit easy.why & he saas... no way..- p3 you're 3 watccing fox 45 morning news.. &pall local.. all mmrring. ((breek 5)) & 3 this nexx guy is prroing thha age is just a number. number.88 yyar old charles ross ii ranked number one in -3 his age brackkt by u-s-a track and field.it's a hobby hhetook up nearly 20 years aao... and one he ssys he won't rreire pfrom. 3 ((i would like to be oing thhs certainly when

jim spellman is at the kennedy space center right now where a decision on a go or no go could come at any time. good morning, jim. >> reporter: good morning, to you pam. still officially on a 30% chance they will be able to get off the ground in about 2.5 hours or so. things have been looking better after a terrible day of weather yesterday. they are going forward with this though as if they are ready to take off. they have fueled up the large external fuel tank. the astronauts are boarding atlanta as we speak. take a look. when atlantis lifts off on its final mission its four person crew will go down in history. the last crew in a long line of shuttle astronauts. >> the shuttle has cleared the tower. >> reporter: starting with the first flight by columbia. it's a legacy pilot doug takes seriously. >> that's where i feel the most pressure to be able to represent them the way they deserve to be represented. >> their 13-day mission will take them to the international space station where they will drop off supplies. sandra spent 4.5 months orbiting the world traveling over 50 million mil

jim spellman is at the kennedy space center which will be the new permanent home of atlantis. reporter: yeah, hey, claudine, it's hard to believe it's over. 135 missions over 30 years. i think we maybe came to take this for granted a little bit, but not today watching a picture perfect landing after perfectly executed mission. it's really going to be difficult to imagine that we're going forth without this amazing space shuttle program. take a look. >> an historic mission. >> take a good look at it and make a memory because you're never going to see anything like this again. >> reporter: marking the end of an era. >> it's been an unbelievable journey on a magnificent flying machine. >> reporter: after almost two weeks in space atlantis returns to earth for the last time. favorable weather conditions had the crew touch down in the early morning hours despite desires to have the momentous landing take place during the day. >> when you're at the con sell and you have the opportunity to come home you take it day or night. >> reporter: nasa says the end of the shuttle program could

jim spellman. >> reporter: a lot of shock and outrage at this verdict. i think what it's come down to is the high standard of reasonable doubt. what the state was not able to do was to provide a cause of death of little caylee or a time of death and during the opening remarks, where the defense put forward this alternate theory, little caylee died in a swimming accident and it was a misguided attempt to make it 7. they were not able to recover from that since they were able to not say this child was murdered or did not die in an accident. a lot of shock from that yesterday. i think as more people think about it, they are realizing what a high standard that is. it's really difficult to get that -- without the direct kind of physical evidence that people are used to seeing from tv shows it's hard to make it out. tomorrow, casey anthony will be sentenced for the four counts of lying to the police. she could get up to a year for each of those. she can do a book deal or a film deal. in fact, we've just confirmed a company has offered 20 do a porn film with he