Valve problem delays Discovery
Posted: Wed, Aug 26, 2009, 7:41 AM ET (1141 GMT)
Shuttle managers Tuesday delayed the next launch attempt of Discovery until at least Friday because of a valve problem detected during fueling. NASA had hoped to launch Discovery on mission STS-128 early Wednesday, but during the fueling process a valve did not appear to close as desired. Engineers are uncertain if this is just an instrumentation problem or if the valve did not properly close, and decided to scrub the launch attempt and perform further tests. If the problem is only with instrumentation, it's likely that the shuttle would be cleared for launch at 12:22 am EDT (0422 GMT) Friday, but if there is something wrong with the valve itself, shuttle managers said it's unlikely it could be fixed before the current launch window closes on Sunday. Managers will confer on midday Thursday to discuss the status of the problem before giving the go-ahead for another launch attempt.
Shuttle managers Tuesday delayed the next launch attempt of Discovery until at least Friday because of a valve problem detected during fueling. NASA had hoped to launch Discovery on mission STS-128 early Wednesday, but during the fueling process a valve did not appear to close as desired. Engineers are uncertain if this is just an instrumentation problem or if the valve did not properly close, and decided to scrub the launch attempt and perform further tests. If the problem is only with instrumentation, it's likely that the shuttle would be cleared for launch at 12:22 am EDT (0422 GMT) Friday, but if there is something wrong with the valve itself, shuttle managers said it's unlikely it could be fixed before the current launch window closes on Sunday. Managers will confer on midday Thursday to discuss the status of the problem before giving the go-ahead for another launch attempt.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, February 18
Space Force needs 10,000 more Guardians, officials tell Senate
Huntsville Times — 5:40 am ET (1040 GMT) SpaceX, Not Tesla, Will Make Musk A Trillionaire
Forbes.com — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) Space Force needs to double in size, top enlisted leader says
FederalNewsRadio.com — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) GMV and the Spanish Air and Space Force Sign Agreement to Strengthen National Space Surveillance Capabilities
Space and Defense — 5:36 am ET (1036 GMT) Virgin Galactic Announces Date of Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results and Conference Call
Virgin Galactic — 5:35 am ET (1035 GMT) |
