Story

Text Size

NASA Delays Discovery Launch Indefinitely

Engineering Teams Checking Problem

POSTED: Friday, July 15, 2005

UPDATED: 9:59 am EDT July 16, 2005

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA said Friday it would not try to launch the space shuttle Discovery until late next week -- at the earliest.

NASA said Friday it would not try to launch the space shuttle Discovery until late next week -- at the earliest.

The space agency is backing out of the countdown and has given up trying to make a launch attempt anytime soon, said spokesman Bruce Buckingham.

SPECIAL SECTION: Return To Flight

INTERACTIVE:All About Space Shuttles

IMAGES: Meet Crew | Heads To Pad

NOTE: Discovery Facts

VIDEO: Scrubbed | Remembering Columbia

VIDEO: Crew To Shuttle | Crew Prepares

Engineers drained the tanks of space shuttle Discovery Friday which means that Sunday's launch attempt is a "no-go," according to Local 6 News partner Florida Today.

NASA's first mission since the 2003 Columbia disaster could be pushed back to September, depending on the work needed, Local 6 News reported.

Hundreds of engineers continued to scramble Friday to figure out why a fuel gauge on space shuttle Discovery failed just before its scheduled liftoff this week.

Video

Video: NASA Troubleshooting For Answers

International Media Coverage

Remembering Columbia

Shuttle Launch Scrubbed

Crowds Flock To Launch Site

Astronauts Head To Shuttle

Crew To Shuttle

Astronauts Prepare

Chance Of Launch Reduced

Discovery Flight A Safety Check

Funnel Clouds Reportedly Spotted Near KSC Landing Facility

NASA Prepares For Launch

The tanks that were drained hold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for the shuttle's fuel cell system.

The fuel cell system generates electricity to power all spaceship systems during flight. The tanks are located beneath the lining of the shuttle's 60-foot-long cargo bay.

The Mission Management Team will meet at 3:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, engineers believe the problem could be in the gauge at the bottom of the tank -- an electronic box aboard the shuttle that serves as a data-relay hub -- or in the cables and wires in between.

The fuel gauges are critical and even though only two are needed, all four must be working properly for a launch to proceed.

An official said these low-level fuel gauges never failed until April, when two malfunctioned during a fueling test of Discovery's original tank. That tank was later replaced for other safety reasons.

If the fuel tank was empty but the sensors indicated full, the engine turbines would spin too fast and likely rupture -- possibly damaging the tail of the spacecraft and dooming the crew. A ground test that accidentally caused that to happen back in the early 1980s resulted in severe "uncontained" damage, Hale said. NASA is loath to repeat such a test on the shuttle's new and stronger turbopumps, according to an official.

On the other end of the scale, if the sensors were to trigger a premature shutdown of the main engines on the way to orbit, the shuttle would be forced to attempt a dangerous emergency landing in Europe or elsewhere.

"None of those options are really what you'd like to have happen to you," Hale said.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

Previous Stories:

July 13, 2005: Glitch Forces Discovery Launch Scrub
July 12, 2005: Funnel Cloud Spotted Near KSC Landing Facility
July 12, 2005: Family Of Israeli Astronaut Will Not Attend Shuttle Launch
July 12, 2005: NASA Confident Discovery Will Launch On Schedule
July 12, 2005: Astronauts Arrive At Launch Site, Beating Hurricane
July 11, 2005: Countdown Begins For Shuttle's Return To Space
July 10, 2005: NASA To Keep Discovery On Launch Pad
July 9, 2005: Space Coast Looks For Economic Boost From Shuttle Launch
July 7, 2005: Shuttle Discovery Set To Launch July 13
July 7, 2005: NASA Monitors Terror Attacks, Hurricane As Shuttle Launch Date Nears
July 4, 2005: 107 Cameras To Watch Shuttle Discovery's Launch
June 30, 2005: Shuttle Discovery Facts
June 28, 2005: NASA Chief: Shuttle Is Ready To Go
June 13, 2005: Discovery Being Prepared To Roll To Launch Pad
June 9, 2005: Shuttle Rollout Slips To Tuesday
June 6, 2005: Discovery Set To Get New Fuel Tank
June 2, 2005: NASA Fuels Shuttle For First Time In More Than 2 Years
June 2, 2005: Astronauts Wrap Up Shuttle Test
May 2, 2005: Astronauts Arrive AT KSC For Rehearsal
April 29, 2005: NASA Makes Shuttle Launch Delay Official
April 21, 2005: NASA Delays Discovery Launch Until May 22
April 6, 2005: Despite Crack In Foam, Shuttle Rolls Toward Pad
April 6, 2005: Shuttle May Miss Liftoff Date

Copyright 2006 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Links We Like

Video & Live Events

Most Popular

StoriesClick to Expand
- Woman In Home Invasion Told To Hide
  Authorities release a chilling 911 call from a 19-year-old woman who hid in the back bedroom of a Central Florida home while four men attempted to break into the house.
- Injured Dog Amazes By Taking Self To Vet
- Kronk's Ex-Wife: I Thought He Probably Killed Caylee
  An ex-wife of the man who found the remains of Caylee Anthony says that she thought her ex-husband was responsible for or involved in the girl's death.
- Five Found Dead In Mobile Home Fire
  Five people are dead after a mobile home fire broke out in Central Florida.
- Woman Sues Ex-Boyfriend Over Herpes
  A Tampa Bay area woman sues her ex-boyfriend claiming he didn't tell her that he had genital herpes.
VideosClick to Expand
- Caught On Camera: Woman Offers Sex To Officer
  Dashcam video shows a Florida woman offering an officer sex instead of getting a ticket.
- Tot Stranded, Separated From Dad As Train Leaves
  A 3-year-old boy was left stranded at a commuter train platform when a door on the train malfunctioned, separating the toddler from his dad. A good Samaritan stayed with the child until the father could return. (Nov. 20)
- Mom's Idea Helps Prevent Losing Socks
  A woman tired of hearing her son say he lost another sock has come up with an idea to prevent it from happening again.
- Obese Man Dies After 8 Months In Recliner
  South Carolina police say an obese man died after not moving from his recliner for the past eight months. Police say the man's body was physically stuck to the chair and firefighters had to cut him out. He died a few hours later at the hospital.
- Court Says Teacher Can't Pack A Pistol
  An Oregon appeals court has ruled against an Oregon high school teacher who wants to take her gun to class. She has been battling for years and says she needs the gun for protection. (Nov. 20)
SlideshowsClick to Expand
- Slideshow_SixPix
- SixPix 6 -- September 2009
- SixPix 5 -- September 2009
- Film Strip: Movies Coming Soon
  Take a quick look at the flicks headed to your multiplex. Check out the trailer, too.
- Victoria's Secret Models Take Over Times Square
  Thirty Victoria's Secret supermodels take over New York's Times Square this week.

Marketplace

AutoClick to Expand
- Cheap Car Drives Like A Pricey One
  The Volkswagen Jetta is the best deal in town if you like the idea of a solid sedan or wagon with European flair.
- It’s About Attitude: ’09 Mini Cooper
  The MINI Cooper provides a combination of fun-to-drive performance, engineering and unconventional attitude.
- Hottest Sports Cars of the Future
  Want to know which sports cars you'll soon be daydreaming about? We've got them all right here.
- 10 SUVs That Are Cheaper Than Cars
  Prices have dropped even farther. In this gallery, we round up the largest SUVs you can buy for less than the price of an average car.
- Made In America! Best 20 Cars
  Check out the best selling American made vehicles and get the stats!
JobsClick to Expand
- 7 Killer Cover Letter Mistakes
  Don’t ruin your chances of landing that new job by making easy to correct mistakes on your cover letter.
- Why Having Fun At Work Matters
  If people are having fun, they’re going to work harder, stay longer, maintain their composure in a crisis and take better care of the organization.
- Ten Tips To Boost Your Interview IQ
  Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10 strategies to enhance your interview IQ.
- Learn How To Deal With Pay Cuts
  If you’re about to take a pay cut, find out how you can go about dealing with it and stay proactive about your salary.
WomenClick to Expand
- Healthy Living In Your 40s
  Your guide to looking and feeling your best.
- Manage Stress, Find Balance
  The idea of living a balanced life may seem like an oxymoron. Yet working toward balance and self-care is key to feeling in control and more joyful at home and work.
- Weight & Exercise: The Right Mix
  Being healthy is related to how well you take care of yourself. But it’s never too late! A woman can learn new, healthy habits at any age.
InsuranceClick to Expand
- Auto Insurance Quotes
  Simply enter your zip code and get great deals on your car insurance from the top companies. Click here and start saving today!
- Health Insurance Quotes
  No matter where you live, you shouldn’t have to pay too much for health insurance. Your zip code is all you need and we’ll do the rest to find you great insurance rates.
- Home Insurance Quotes
  Your home is your most valuable asset. So make sure you have coverage that fits your needs and doesn’t break the bank.
- Life Insurance Quotes
  What would happen to your family if you were suddenly gone? Don’t leave their future to chance and find top quality life insurance before it’s too late.
- Business Insurance Quotes
  Don’t take chances when it comes to insuring your business. To get the best rates from top companies in your area just enter your zip code.
HomesClick to Expand
- Top 10 Real Estate Nightmares
  Learn how you can avoid these hair-raising real estate horrors.
- 5 Fast Deacorating Ideas
  Here are five great decorating projects to make your space homey -- all without wiping out you or your bank account.
- Add Architectual Detail To Your Home
  Get the Top 10 ways to add more architectual detail to your home and enhance your space.
- Buying To Flip Not Smart In Today's Market
  If home doesn't meet long-term needs, don't buy it. Ironically, buyers tend to pull back when the market is soft and buy when the market is high.
- Selling A Home At Auction
  Read these 5 steps for an efficient real estate auction.