NASA's Space Shuttle Return to Flight mission rescheduled

Allard Beutel/Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

RELEASE: 60-05

NASA'S SHUTTLE RETURN TO FLIGHT LAUNCH RESCHEDULED

The launch of NASA's Space Shuttle Return to Flight mission, STS-114,
will take place no earlier than Saturday, July 16 at 2:40 p.m. EDT.
Space Shuttle Discovery's liftoff today from NASA's Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., was postponed at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

During countdown activities, a low-level fuel cut-off sensor located
inside the External Tank failed a routine prelaunch check. The sensor
protects a Shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down in
the event fuel runs unexpectedly low. The sensor is one of four
inside the liquid hydrogen section of the External Tank.

The External Tank's liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen were drained
this evening. While the tank was being emptied, engineers monitored
and collected data on the liquid hydrogen sensor that failed. They
will continue to collect and analyze data overnight.

Space Shuttle Program managers plan a series of meetings tomorrow to
discuss the problem and determine the steps necessary to get back
into the launch countdown.

The STS-114 crew will remain at Kennedy Space Center for now while
engineers work on the problem.

During their 12-day Return to Flight mission to the International
Space Station, Discovery's seven crew members will test new
techniques and equipment designed to make Space Shuttles safer.
They'll also deliver supplies and make repairs to the Space Station.

For the latest information about the STS-114 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight


-end-


--
--------------

Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info