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Hiro
07-15-2005, 12:37 PM
http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/main/index.html?skipIntro=1


As of this afternoon, NASA is standing down from the current launch countdown for Space Shuttle Discovery's Return to Flight mission, STS-114.

Space Shuttle Program managers are still working toward a launch this month, but the next launch attempt will happen no earlier than late next week. A more precise target launch date will be given out at a news conference scheduled for no earlier than 5:30 p.m. EDT Friday.

Managers and engineers are meeting today to review data and possible troubleshooting plans for a liquid hydrogen low-level fuel sensor inside the External Tank. The sensor failed a routine pre-launch check during the launch countdown Wednesday, causing mission managers to postpone Discovery's first launch attempt.

A countdown from this point will be a complete start over at T-43 (time minus) hours.

The STS-114 crew will return to NASA's Johnson Space Center either tonight or tomorrow.

*sigh* Hopefully they will get things going right soon.

Jcranmer
07-15-2005, 06:48 PM
I hate to say it, as I have always thought the shuttles were "special", since they are the only space flights in my lifetime. However it's evident that they are well past their lifetime, and need to be scrapped in favor of something new.

We can never get out of orbit and visit the moon again, or even think about mars with the shuttle.

AmRivlin
07-18-2005, 05:09 PM
Gosh, I hope they launch next week, I was deeply saddened in 2003, but hoped they could move past it, and go to the stars!