Iowa astronaut hopes to finally get into space

A hopeful astronaut from Iowa may get her first ride into space today if the third time is indeed a charm. After two delays due to heavy rain and repairs, the shuttle Endeavour is slated for liftoff this afternoon at 4:22 central time. That’s iffy though as Florida forecasters say there’s a 60-percent chance of no-go weather conditions. The crew includes 42-year-old Peggy Whitson, who was born and raised on a farm near Mount Ayr. She’s to become the first Iowa woman in space and she’ll be there a long time. Whitson’s scheduled to stay aboard the International Space Station through September.