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The Shuttles are extremely complex pieces of machinery, with literally thousands of parts and extremely volatile chemicals (solid and liquid) that must function properly together in order for a successful launch to occur. As such, humans cannot monitor and control the many critical systems and react to problems fast enough during the final stages of launch, so the process is automated.
At T minus 9 minutes, a hold is placed on the countdown, and the Shuttle launch sequence is turned over to the Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS) software program at Kennedy Space Center. Upon resuming the countdown, the GLS system is responsible for monitoring critical launch systems for any failure (real or not), or parameters that are outside of established limits, interrupting the launch sequence if any parameter isn't met. At T minus 31 seconds, launch control is switched from the GLS system to the Shuttle's onboard main computers, which is then responsible for detecting any problems and stopping the count if necessary.
The NASA Launch Director has the authority to override an interrupt. This is done only upon analysis of the error detected after the launch interrupt, if the error is found to be either false (computers aren't infallible either), or the parameter which led to the launch abort is deemed to be small enough to be worth the risk (it has to be pretty small - safety of crew and vehicle are the first concerns). Depending on the severity of the problem, the Launch Director will either continue the countdown, or delay the launch in order to further investigate/fix the problem if it's severe enough (system failure, etc.)
It is not unusual for a Shuttle launch to be delayed due to a GLS abort; during my Kennedy Space Center visit to witness Discovery's launch (anyone who works on a Shuttle payload is entitled to view the launch on-center at KSC), which had no problems, I met a woman who had previously been to no less than 10 other launches. The one I met her at was the first she had actually seen go through, as all the others had been delayed either by computer aborts, weather, or the other many factors that are taken into account before a Shuttle can launch.
What else can I help you with?
Where does the Canadian Space Agency launch shuttles from?
no place, nobody has space shuttles anymore
How do they get the space shuttle in space?
they have launchers that they use to launch the space shuttles.
Why do people launch space shuttles into space?
to study Earth and space
Where did the space shuttles launch from?
Cape Canaveral, Florida, Kennedy Space Center.
Where do astronauts launch there space shuttles from?
Astronauts launch their space shuttles from various locations, including Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. Each space agency has its own designated launch site for launching space shuttles.
Which government agency study space?
NASA because they launch space shuttles into space.
Where are the launch pads for NASA space shuttles located?
The NASA space shuttles launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Specifically, they used Launch Complex 39, which consisted of two launch pads: Pad 39A and Pad 39B.
Where in Florida do space shuttles launch?
From 1981 through 2009, Space Shuttles launched from Cape Canaveral, FL on the east coast. All of the surviving space shuttles have been retired to various museums.
Where does NASA launch space shuttles from?
NASA launches the space shuttle from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Who pays for the space shuttles?
the person that wants to launch a space shuttle, a space company like NASA or the government
Where are space shuttles launched from?
The last Space Shuttle missions flew in 2011. The remaining shuttles themselves are now on display in museums. When they flew, they were launched from Cape Canaveral, on Florida's east coast.
How many space shuttles have there been launch up to now in the Kennedy space?
5 different space shuttles have been launched on 129 missions.
