Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/15/shuttle_delayed_til_july/
Space shuttle delayed... again
Scheduling by PlayStation?
Posted in Science, 15th March 2006 12:52 GMT
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NASA has once again pushed back the launch of space shuttle Discovery. The first launch since last year's recurrence of the foam-shedding problem that caused the Columbia disaster now won't happen until July at the earliest, according to engineers.
The problem this time is with a fuel tank sensor. Fixing it will take three weeks, meaning the scheduled May launch window will come too soon. Programme engineer Wayne Hale said: "We wish it had worked out differently, but it's first and foremost that we fly safely."
The engine cut-off sensor coordinates timely shut down of the orbiter engines when the main fuel tank is empty. A fault could mean the shuttle fails to make it into orbit.
The three 2006 launches NASA had hoped for, which we reported [1] at the start of this month, now seem unlikely.
NASA's new window to get Discovery off the ground runs from 1 to 19 July. ®