Discovery delayed yet again – NASA plans for new attempt on Friday

by Steve Ragan - Nov 4 2010, 13:08

Perhaps Discovery’s final launch was actually last April during STS-131. Yet again, weather has ruined NASA’s launch plans, causing delays for STS-133. Discovery was set to blast off for the 39th and final time Thursday afternoon, but rain and an approaching cold front caused NASA to forgo fueling the shuttle, scrubbing the mission.

The initial launch had been set for Tuesday, but problems with the backup controller for the orbiter's third engine caused the Prelaunch Mission Management Team to issue a two-day delay.

“Rather than rush the shuttle launch team through an analysis and launch cycle quickly, [Mike Moses, the chair of the MMT] opted to let the engineers work throughout the night on the issue without having to worry about an early morning tanking and Wednesday afternoon launch,” NASA said in a statement on Tuesday.

While Friday looks like a go, NASA will take a wait-and-see approach, as forecasters are predicting high winds. If such weather should appear, Discovery could once again remain firmly grounded upon launch pad 39A.

Mission STS-133 (once up and running) will see the shuttle delivering a storage pod, spare parts and Robonaut 2, a dexterous humanoid robot that will undergo serveral tests, to the International Space Station. 

Following mission completion and a safe return to Earth, Discovery will become the first of NASA's aging shuttle fleet to officially retire from service.

After STS-133, space shuttle Endeavour has one more scheduled flight, and Atlantis has the possibility of another flight as well. Atlantis will remain on standby for an extra flight no matter what. Should it be needed, the shuttle will serve as the rescue vehicle sent up after Endeavour.

Mission managers plan to meet at 5:00 a.m (EDT) on Friday morning to discuss STS-133. If the elements are deemed to be stable, fueling should start at around 5:40 a.m (EDT). Launch is expected to take place shortly after 3:00 p.m. (EDT).

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