Shuttle Discovery's final flight will launch no earlier than Dec. 17, NASA program managers decided today. Officials had been considering an attempt between Dec. 3 and Dec. 6, but wanted more time to complete analysis of a repaired external fuel tank.
The new launch window extends from Dec. 17 to Dec. 20 and would put Discovery's six-person crew at the International Space Station on Christmas Day.
A Dec. 17 launch would be planned at 8:51 p.m., and the time would roll back about 25 minutes each day after that.
NASA has scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference to discuss the decision, which allows more time to complete analysis of the external tank's condition.
IMAGE: At Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 4, shuttle Discovery waited patiently on launch pad 39A for its STS-133 launch to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux
6 comments:
How long are the NASA bozos going to extend their careers with this launch.....they have only had 10 months to prepare. Thank goodness this is the last of the money pit!
As if the latest delay wasn't already expected. Only prolonging the inevitable & collecting a decent paycheck.
Anonymous 8:24PM Of course they're all collecting that decent paycheck for doing not much or nothing. Anything to get more wasted funding for their payrolls from our stupid politicians.
So what else is new! When govt is broke they have always increased spending so they can tax the working class & take more away from the retired while giving bigger tax breaks to the rich. The American dream is gone folks!
Who needs NASA anyway. The Russians seem to be doing the job without all the unusual delays Americans seem to be having lately. Has anyone checked for internal sabbotage with all the latest delays? Just wondering. It wouldn't surprise anyone knowing they're soon to be more layoffs come Jan. 2011.
Interesting how all you know-it-all post your negative comments as "Anonymous" Why is that? And why do ya'll hate NASA and the workers so much? Internal sabbotage is a hell of a comment to post.
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