NASA Aims for Tuesday Morning Launch

NASA officials have announced plans to the begin the countdown to a July 26 launch of Space Shuttle Discovery. The countdown will start Saturday, with a test of the External Tank to follow early on launch day. If all goes well with the test, the countdown will continue to liftoff at 1039 EDT on Tuesday.

In the meantime, technicians will work with grounding wiring associated with the liquid hydrogen engine cutoff sensor system, as well as adjust the configuration of components within Discovery's point sensor box. During a briefing held after a mission managers meeting, NASA Space Shuttle Program Manager Bill Parsons said "We've all agreed that this work is doable, and that it all takes us to a launch on the 26th."

The engine cutoff sensors are mounted at the bottom of the External Tank and trigger the orbiter's engines to shutdown in the event liquid hydrogen levels run low. The system failed a routine pre-launch check during the countdown on July 13, causing NASA to postpone Discovery's first launch attempt.

The window to launch Discovery to the International Space Station extends through July 31.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/main