Experts To Meet Wednesday To Reassess Safety Concerns

March 12 Liftoff At 8:54 P.M. ET Would Mean On-Schedule Launches For Hubble, Station Missions

The much-delayed Space Shuttle Discovery now may launch at 8:54 p.m. ET March 12, but that liftoff next week is contingent on further detective work, attempting to figure out what dangers might lie in the three shuttle gaseous hydrogen flow control valves.

Because one such valve broke off during a prior shuttle mission, NASA experts are attempting to determine whether the valves pose a threat to future shuttle flights.

At Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians are removing Discovery’s three valves, two of which will undergo detailed inspection.

Approximately 4,000 images of each valve will be reviewed for evidence of cracks. Valves that have flown fewer times will be installed in Discovery. Engineering teams also will complete analysis and testing to understand the consequences if a valve piece were to break off and strike pressurization lines between the shuttle and external fuel tank.

Hardware modifications may be made to the pressurization lines to add extra protection in the unlikely event debris is released, the space agency announced.

NASA and contractor teams are sleuthing what caused damage to a flow control valve on Space Shuttle Endeavour during its November flight. Part of the main propulsion system, the valves channel gaseous hydrogen through high pressure lines.

After a thorough review of shuttle Discovery’s readiness for flight on Feb. 20, NASA managers decided more understanding of the valve work was required before launching Discovery.

NASA experts will meet Wednesday to review new data and assess ongoing work. Managers then will determine whether to move forward with a flight readiness review Friday.

If Discovery’s tentative launch date holds, there will be no effect on the next two shuttle launches: STS-125 to repair and refurbish the Hubble Space Telescope, and STS-127 to the International Space Station.

NASA only has a limited time to finish all of its scheduled space shuttle flights, before the shuttle fleet retires by October next year. Former President Bush ordered the shuttle fleet retirement by that deadline, and President Obama has endorsed that move. (Please see full story in this issue.)

After that, NASA will be dependent on the Russians to transport U.S. astronauts to space, for half a decade until the next-generation Orion-Ares U.S. spaceship system begins manned flights in 2015.

Questions For Discovery

Separately, space enthusiasts from across the United States and around the world are invited to submit questions about the Discovery launch and mission, with a chance that the questions may be answered on NASA Television during the countdown to launch.

Questions can be submitted online at:

http://webcast.ksc.nasa.gov on the Web.

The STS-119 mission will deliver a new crew member to the space station. The crew also will deliver and install a fourth and final set of large solar arrays that will provide electricity to support six-person station crews beginning in May. Currently, three crew members live aboard the station for several months at a time.