Space Shuttle Launch Pushed Back to July

[tocqueville]

By MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press Writer
14 minutes ago

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA on Tuesday pushed back the launch of space shuttle Discovery from May until at least July because of a faulty fuel tank sensor.

A similar problem briefly delayed last summer's launch of Discovery on the first shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster in 2003.

NASA said it needs the time to open up the spacecraft's hydrogen fuel tank and replace the sensor, which gave an electrical current reading that was slightly off. The space agency plans to replace the three other sensors in the tank, too, to be safe.

The fuel gauges are designed to prevent the main engines from running too long or not long enough, during the climb to space. An engine shutdown at the wrong time could prove catastrophic, forcing the astronauts to attempt a risky emergency landing overseas, or leading to a ruptured engine.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060314/ap_on_sc/space_shuttle

[1620rock]

1. It's time to retire the shuttle and develop a new vehicle. n/t

[sutz12]

2. Amen...

They need to find a cheaper and safer way to get into orbit.

[Solon]

3. Agreed...

Preferable one that doesn't require you to jettison most of the mass before reaching orbit, yet is powerful enough to hit Geosynchronous orbit. You know that most of the problems associated with the shuttle, including safety, are because it is OVERLY complicated, as far as design goes. A slightly simpler design can go a long way, plus the shuttle has had a pretty good safety record, but improve upon and replace it, with a slightly less expensive and simpler design.