KSC-06pd0212

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Before dawn on NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF), Sir Richard Branson talks to the media. Branson is chairman and founder of Virgin Atlantic, which is sponsoring the GlobalFlyer. Steve Fossett will pilot the GlobalFlyer on a record-breaking attempt by flying solo, non-stop without refueling, to surpass the current record for the longest flight of any aircraft. Fossett is expected to take off from the KSC SLF. Later, takeoff of the GlobalFlyer was postponed due to a fuel leak that appeared during the last moments of loading. The next planned takeoff attempt is 7 a.m. Feb. 8 from the SLF. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett