Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Delayed Until March 15th

We reported earlier today that the Space Shuttle Discovery launch had been delayed again, and now late this afternoon we hear from NASA that the target launch date is now no earlier than March 15th. NASA managers postponed Wednesday's planned liftoff due to a leak associated with the gaseous hydrogen venting system outside the external fuel tank. The system is used to carry excess hydrogen safely away from the launch pad.

If the NASA managers give the Shuttle a green light to launch on March 15th, it would take place at 7:34pm EDT. The exact launch date is dependent on the work necessary to repair the problem. Managers will meet Thursday at 4 p.m. to further assess the troubleshooting plan. Earlier this afternoon it was thought that perhaps the Shuttle would launch on Thursday, but it would now appear that they need more time to insure the needed repairs go smoothly.

Discovery's STS-119 flight will deliver the space station's fourth and final set of solar array wings, completing the stations truss, or backbone. The arrays will provide the electricity to fully power science experiments and support the station's expanded crew of six in May. The 14-day mission will feature four spacewalks to help install the S6 truss segment to the starboard, or right, side of the station and the deployment of its solar arrays. The flight also will replace a failed unit for a system that converts urine to potable water.

Commander Lee Archambault is joined on STS-119 by Pilot Tony Antonelli and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold, John Phillips and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata. Wakata will replace space station crew member Sandra Magnus, who has been aboard the station for more than four months. He will return to Earth during the next station shuttle mission, STS-127, targeted to launch in June 2009.

We will provide more information as we receive word from NASA.