Blogger Note: Updated at 8:50 a.m. with NET Monday launch date.NASA scrubbed today's planned launch of shuttle Discovery as a result of a potentially dangerous leak of gaseous hydrogen that could force the agency to delay an International Space Station outfitting mission until December.
The mission is being delayed at least until Monday. Liftoff time Monday would be targeted for 12:53 p.m.
The leak of gaseous hydrogen was detected from a fixture that vents excess gaseous hydrogen from the external tank, through ground support lines to a flare stack 1,000 feet from the launch pad, where it is safely burned away.
Similar leaks caused delays in the launches of the STS-119 mission in March 2009 and the STS-127 mission in June 2009.
The STS-127 mission was delayed a month.
NASA had said the agency needed to launch Discovery by Sunday or delay until a window that opens Dec. 1 and closes after Dec. 5. But they also were looking at whether Monday might be a possibility.
Up until now, NASA has said the sun angle on the International Space Station between Monday and Nov. 23 will be such that the outpost could not generate enough power, and the shuttle could not dispel enough heat, for docked operations.
A three-man station crew also is scheduled to depart the outpost Nov. 29 and an ongoing shuttle mission would interrupt that operation.
5 comments:
Gonna try for Monday @ 12:48
We won't know more until after after the meetings this morning. If we do not launch on Monday, the next possible attempt is November 30th. We just heard this morning that there is an extra day in the next window. November 30th would be better, giving the various teams more time. There will be a news conference this afternoon.
Doesn't surprise anyone of all the recent delays the shuttle is having lately. Intentional delays by NASA shuttle workers? Can't imagine what the astronauts are thinking or preparing their families for what could happen. Some of the oversights might be marked to the low employee morale as 171 United Space Alliance workers at KSC are receiving their layoff notices today with their last day being Jan. 7, 2011.
Finally, someone was smart enough to take the heed of precaution of all the unexpected delays.
All that comes to mind is - "Remember, Remember,the Fifth of November" I'll skip any anecdotes to why the shuttle delays were bound to happen although the layoff notices passed out since Thursday might be a tell-tale sign.
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