spacetoday.net: Shuttle launch likely to slip again

Posted: Fri, Jan 7, 2011, 7:10 AM ET (1210 GMT)

NASA officials said late Thursday the launch of the space shuttle Discovery is likely to slip again, although no new date has been determined. Discovery was set to launch as early as February 3, but shuttle managers are considering making additional repairs to the shuttle's external tank to address cracks found in several aluminum brackets, or stringers, after a series of November launch attempts were scrubbed. A NASA spokesman said it's unlikely the shuttle would launch during the next available window, which runs from February 3 through February 10. The next window after that starts February 27, but that date may be moved up a few days depending on when a European ATV cargo spacecraft docks with the station. A formal launch date will likely be announced after a meeting next week at the Johnson Space Center.