CNN says it was a faulty sensor that detects whether the external fuel tank is attached. Considering the recent press, the bits falling off could also be a factor but the sensor is the official reason.
Nope. A fuel sensor malfunctioned. One of a set of four. They require two of these to function, but they don't want to start the mission unless they're all functioning.
Would you drive your car around if the gas gauge said "empty"?
Now, would you do it with a $2 billion space package and a few warm bodies?
(My favorite part from the last week is what they plan to do in case Discovery's tiles are damaged and can't be repaired. 11 people at ISS is bad enough, but the part where they would deorbit Discovery, let it burn up in the atmosphere, and crash what's left into the ocean was just silly.
Then again, the next shuttle crash will probably put STS out of business. Congress will kill off any manned space funding until the next launch system comes on line.)
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msmemory_archive) wrote2005-07-13 01:56 pm
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"The current launch window runs until the end of July, after which Discovery would have to wait until September to get airborne."
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Now, would you do it with a $2 billion space package and a few warm bodies?
(My favorite part from the last week is what they plan to do in case Discovery's tiles are damaged and can't be repaired. 11 people at ISS is bad enough, but the part where they would deorbit Discovery, let it burn up in the atmosphere, and crash what's left into the ocean was just silly.
Then again, the next shuttle crash will probably put STS out of business. Congress will kill off any manned space funding until the next launch system comes on line.)
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4676473.stm