spacetoday.net: Shuttle launch pushed back to late next week

Posted: Fri, Jul 15, 2005, 8:08 PM ET (0008 GMT)
STS-114: logo (NASA)

NASA shuttle managers said Friday that it will be late next week at the earliest — and quite possibly much later — before they will be ready to make another attempt to launch the shuttle Discovery. NASA decided Friday to reset the countdown clock, which had been in an extended hold since the fuel sensor problem was first detected Wednesday. Efforts to determine the cause of the problem continue, but have made little progress in finding a solution. The countdown reset means that the next launch attempt will take place four days after the problem is solved. The earliest launch attempt is now no sooner than late next week, and that require a quick solution to the problem that managers don't think is likely. The launch window remains open through the end of the month, although NASA is reportedly considering ways to extend the launch window a few days into August, although lighting aspects during portions of a launch during that time would not be ideal. The next launch window opens in early September.