NASA Plans Tuesday Launch Of Discovery

NASA has set Tuesday, July 26, 2005 as the target date for the launch of the Discovery Space Shuttle, sources say.

The launch of the Discovery was originally set for July 13, 2005 but was delayed because of an unexplained problem with one of several fuel sensors in the Shuttle's main fuel tank. The Shuttle's return to flight after two and a half years of upgrades arising from the loss of the Columbia in 2003 had been widely anticipated but was halted shortly before launch as engineers tried to determine the cause of the failure. The delay was a source of disappointment and frustration, but NASA emphasized at the time the importance of investigating the failure because of the importance of safety over other concerns.

News sources say that the problem with the sensor may be attributable to an electromagnetic or electrical ground fault, and repairs are being made based on that premise. NASA may conclude its investigation while the Discovery is being refueled because of suspicions that the problem may be associated with a fully fueled state.

NASA does not believe that the fuel sensor failure necessarily represents a flight safety problem and may decide to launch the Shuttle on Tuesday even if the sensor fails again.

Sources: KNX-AM radio and the following:

Link.