spacetoday.net: STS-133 launch delayed at least a day

STS-133 launch delayed at least a day

Posted: Fri, Oct 29, 2010, 4:49 PM ET (2049 GMT)

Shuttle managers decided early Friday to delay the launch of the space shuttle Discovery, originally scheduled for Monday, at least one day to correct leaks in fuel pressurization systems on the orbiter. During pressurization of the propellant tanks on the shuttle's orbital maneuvering system, technicians detected leaks in helium and nitrogen pressurization seals; these leaks are unrelated to an earlier fuel leak in the system corrected last weekend. NASA officials said they believed the problems could be corrected pretty easily, but need at least one day in order to carry out the tests. Discovery is now scheduled for launch no sooner than 4:17 pm EDT (2017 GMT) Tuesday on its last planned mission.