The Wed, Nov. 3, shuttle launch didn’t occur as plan. The shuttle Discovery release was postponed initially for a leak of hydrogen, however additional examination has revealed more issues. The launch could have to wait until Nov 30. There have been comparable problems before. The Shuttle Discovery is going on its last mission ever, though.
Gas leak causes delay in shuttle launch
The shuttle Discovery had been slated to launch on Wednesday, Nov. 3 and dock with the International Space Station, but was delayed when NASA engineers found a leak of hydrogen gas from the fuel tank, according to Fox News. This came after a delay until Friday, Nov. 5, due to bad weather. The gas used by NASA for rockets is liquid hydrogen which is kept at 450 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. It is hard to maintain the temperature which causes gaseous hydrogen to come off the fuel. The Discovery launch was initially delayed for several days, but NASA engineers and technicians believe the problem to be too deep seated for a quick fix. The "tanking" procedure, where the fuel tank is filled with liquid hydrogen and oxygen, is when the leak was found.
Flying Discovery for the final time
There is a schedule for the Shuttle launch. There will be two more launches to happen. Two more space Shuttle flights are scheduled. This means that the program won't be over for a little longer. The Discovery orbiter which has been a shuttle longer than any, will be going on its last flight with the Discovery launch. The last flight of the space shuttle program could be a launch of the shuttle Endeavour. The International Space Station is where both missions are planned ongoing.
Thanksgiving will come before the launch now
November 30 is the proposed NASA launch date. The reason why the leak occurred is still being determined, and NASA doesn’t want to send a shuttle into space without knowing for sure. The shuttle program had been stopped because of the shuttle Columbia exploding. George W. Bush stopped it.
Articles cited
Fox News
foxnews.com/scitech/2010/11/05/fuel-leak-delays-launch-space-shuttle-discovery/
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