NASA managers postponed Friday’s 12:22 a.m. EDT launch of space shuttle Discovery to allow engineers more time to develop plans for resolving an issue with a valve in the shuttle’s main propulsion system. Launch now is targeted for no earlier than 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 28, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
August 26, 2009
NASA has targeted the next launch attempt for space shuttle Discovery for no earlier than 12:22 a.m. EDT Friday, August 28, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Wednesday’s launch attempt was postponed after an indication that a valve in the shuttle’s main propulsion system failed to perform as expected during fueling of the shuttle’s external fuel tank.
NASA managers officially postponed Wednesday’s launch attempt because of uncertainty about whether a valve that was commanded to be closed actually was closed. The valve is associated with the fill and drain plumbing of the main propulsion system within the shuttle’s aft compartment.
The space shuttle mission management team will meet at noon Thursday, August 27 to discuss the troubleshooting results and decide whether to continue with a launch attempt. The tanking weather briefing will follow at 2:15 p.m.
Discovery’s 13-day STS-128 flight to the International Space Station will deliver storage racks; materials and fluids science racks; a freezer to store research samples; a new sleeping compartment; an air purification system; and a treadmill named after comedian Stephen Colbert.
