Space Shuttle Launch Postponed Again

Discovery to Deliver Supplies to International Space Station

By Irene Klotz
August 25, 2009

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA delayed a Wednesday morning liftoff of the space shuttle Discovery because of an apparent problem with a valve in its fuel tank.

Space Shuttle Discovery sits on launch pad 39-A after the mission was scrubbed because of inclement weather at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009.

(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
More Photos

It was the second consecutive delay, after stormy weather postponed a launch attempt early on Tuesday. Discovery and its seven-member crew were preparing for a 13-day supply mission to the International Space Station.

The valve problem surfaced as technicians began fueling up the shuttle for a launch set for 1:10 a.m. EDT (0510 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"It appears we have a broken fill-and-drain valve," said NASA spokesman Allard Beutel. "It may not be broken, it may be an indicator that was not giving a proper reading."

Managers did not immediately set a new launch date. NASA has until Sunday to get Discovery off the launch pad before the flight would likely be reset for October due to scheduling conflicts with other launches and tests at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Source