Discovery's scheduled move out of its Kennedy Space Center processing hangar is being held up as a result of mechanical problems with an orbiter sling in the Vehicle Assembly Building.A sheered jack screw on the spreader beam of the sling is preventing technicians from repositioning the device, which now is located in the transfer aisle of the 52-story building. Consequently, Discovery can't be rolled into the transfer aisle until the sling is fixed.
Along with two overhead bridge cranes, the sling is used to hoist an orbiter into a vertical position so it can be mounted atop a mobile launcher platform and connected to an external tank with attached solid rocket boosters.
NASA engineers are trying to determine if the sling can be fixed in time to roll Discovery into the assembly building later today. However, thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and could potentially prompt a rollover delay until Friday. Rain can damage the fragile thermal tiles that protect an orbiter and its astronaut crew from intense heat encountered during atmospheric reentry.
IMAGE NOTE: Refresh this page for the latest image capture from this live shot inside the Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building.
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