Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Shuttle launch delayed again

The launch of Space shuttle Discovery has been delayed once again, this time due to a problem with a liquid hydrogen valve. Yesterday [Tuesday] NASA scrubbed an early morning launch due to storms in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery had intended to lift off at 01:10 ET [05:10 GMT] today on its mission to deliver refrigerator-sized racks full of equipment, including the COLBERT treadmill, an exercise device named after U.S. comedian Stephen Colbert. 

NASA is now targeting space shuttle Discovery for a launch attempt Friday morning at 0:22 ET [04:22 GMT] according to mission management team Chairman Mike Moses. Engineers will evaluate a liquid hydrogen valve that developed problems during tanking operations Tuesday evening. Detailed test data about the valve will be examined before Discovery's fuel tank is loaded with propellant ahead of Friday morning's launch attempt.

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