potentially dangerous hydrogen gas leak cropped up as NASA fueled Discovery for liftoff Friday, resulting in yet another delay for the space shuttle's final voyage -- possibly until the end of the month.
Space shuttle managers and engineers will meet at 11 a.m. (11/5/10) EDT to discuss the work necessary to repair a gaseous hydrogen leak and prepare space shuttle Discovery for its next launch attempt.
The earliest opportunity is Monday, Nov. 8, at 12:53 p.m. EST, the last date Discovery can launch in this window. The next launch window for Discovery is Tuesday, Nov. 30 through Saturday, Dec. 5.
The culprit is a leak in the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate -- or GUCP. The GUCP allows gaseous hydrogen to vent the flare stack where the excess is burned off as a safety measure.
NASA has updated the date and time:
"The Kennedy Space Center Call-to-Stations to begin the launch countdown will be no earlier than Nov. 30, supporting a first launch attempt no earlier than Dec. 3 at about 2:52 a.m. EST."
I live 2 hours south of the center and try an make it up to every launch i can. I would like to see it go on the 17 since it will be a night launch. They are awesome to see. It really lights that place up.