Thu, Feb 26, 2009
Discovery Could Fly As Soon As March 12
Following weeks of seeming indecision about when NASA planned to
launch its next shuttle mission to the International Space Station,
NASA announced Wednesday a plan that could support launch of
Discovery, now tentatively targeted for March 12.
NASA cautions an exact target launch date will be determined as
work progresses with the
shuttle's three gaseous hydrogen flow control
valves. At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida,
technicians have started removing Discovery's three valves, two of
which will undergo detailed inspection. Approximately 4,000 images
of each valve will be reviewed for evidence of cracks.
Valves that have flown fewer times will be installed in
Discovery. Engineering teams also will complete analysis and
testing to understand the consequences if a valve piece were to
break off and strike pressurization lines between the shuttle and
external fuel tank. Hardware modifications may be made to the
pressurization lines to add extra protection in the unlikely event
debris is released.
NASA and contractor teams have been working to identify what
caused damage to a flow control valve on shuttle Endeavour during
its November 2008 flight. Part of the main propulsion system, the
valves channel gaseous hydrogen from the main engines to the
external tank. After a thorough review of shuttle Discovery's
readiness for flight on February 20, NASA managers decided more
understanding of the valve work was required before launching
Discovery.
The Space Shuttle Program will hold a meeting March 4 to review
new data and assess ongoing work. Managers then will determine
whether to move forward with a flight readiness review March 6.
If Discovery's tentative launch date holds, NASA says there will
be no effect on the next two shuttle launches: STS-125 to NASA's
Hubble Space Telescope and STS-127 to the International Space
Station.
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