Discovery Delayed
Not much of a surprise, but NASA has announced that the next liftoff of the Shuttle (STS-121, Discovery) will not take place before July 1 at the earliest due to unresolved technical issues. The original launch window targeted May 10 - May 22nd.
Space Shuttle Discovery approaches the International Space Station.
Image credit: NASA (STS-114, 28 July 2005)
Text of press release:
NASA announced today July 1 to 19, 2006, is the new launch planning window for Space Shuttle Discovery’s mission (STS-121). The window gives the agency time to do additional engineering work and analysis to ensure a safe flight for Discovery and its crew.
Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale made the announcement during a news conference from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The decision to target July followed a two-day meeting on the external fuel tank’s engine cutoff (ECO) sensors. The sensors indicate whether the tank still has fuel during liftoff. During testing, one of the four ECO sensors had a slightly different reading than is expected. Shuttle officials have decided they will remove and replace all four liquid hydrogen sensors.
“We’ve been saying for months that our engineering work would determine when we fly our next mission. Targeting July is the right choice in order to make smart decisions,” said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Space Operations.
Other issues factored into the decision to adjust the STS-121 planning window:
- Testing and analysis are required on the shuttle’s modified external tank. The testing will help verify the tank is safe to fly without the protuberance air load (PAL) foam ramp. The PAL ramp was removed after a large piece of foam fell from that area during Discovery’s July 2005 launch. More analysis is needed to decide whether changes are needed on the tank’s ice frost foam ramps.
- Repair work on the shuttle’s robotic arm must be completed. Technicians on a work platform accidentally bumped the arm last week, causing a tiny crack. The arm will be removed for repair.
The STS-121 mission will take Shuttle Commander Steve Lindsey and six crew members to the International Space Station. This is the second mission in the Return to Flight sequence to evaluate new heat shield inspection and repair techniques and to deliver supplies and equipment to the station.For information about the Space Shuttle Program, the STS-121 mission and its crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
2 Responses to “Discovery Delayed”
Leave a Reply
rss
entries
comments
Search
faves
why not use endeavour? it’s the youngest.
Unfortunately it’s not that simple. Endeavour is still in the processing facility undergoing the mandated modifications, post-Columbia and CAIB. The latest status update I’ve been able to find is this, dated 3 March:
“In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, work continues on Endeavour following an extensive modification period. The vehicle remains powered-down, and technicians continue to implement the new Return to Flight modifications.
Rigging of both the elbow and shoulder for the remote manipulator system (shuttle arm) continues. Final work continues on the reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap. It is scheduled to be installed into the vehicle next week.”
Discovery is slated to launch next, followed by Atlantis (which is notably ahead of Endeavour in overall status/readiness). Beyond that, a major issue that has to be resolved concerns the external tank, which affects every orbiter, regardless.