July 13, 2005
Nasa Scrubs Shuttle Mission STS-114
The US space agency has called off the launch of space shuttle Discovery, because of a faulty fuel-tank sensor.
The orbiter was set to make the first flight since the loss of Columbia and its crew of seven in February 2003.
Discovery’s astronauts had all been strapped into the shuttle and were preparing for blast-off when the order came through to stand down.
It is not clear at this stage when Nasa will be able to reschedule the mission to the International Space Station.
Launch control said it would take some time to figure out the problem.
The sensor is one of four in the shuttle’s external tank responsible for making sure the spacecraft’s engines shut down at the proper point during the ascent.
Nasa said it appeared that the sensor was showing a low level on the part of the tank containing the super-cooled hydrogen propellant – even though the tank had been topped up ready for launch.
The sensors “for some reason did not behave today and so we’re going to have to scrub this launch attempt,” launch director Mike Leinbach informed colleagues.
“So appreciate all we’ve been through together, but this one is not going to result in a launch attempt today,” he added.
The current launch window runs until the end of July.
Discovery’s mission is the first for Nasa in two and a half years.
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