Space shuttle leaking, NASA working up repair plan

Space shuttle leaking, NASA working up repair plan (AP)
The crew of space shuttle Discovery, from left, commander Steve Lindsey, pilot Eric Boe, mission specialist's Alvin Drew, Tim Kopra, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott attend a news conference in front of the shuttle on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010. Discovery is scheduled to launch Nov. 1. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

(AP) -- Space shuttle Discovery is leaking on the launch pad.

If it isn't fixed soon, the small fuel leak could delay Discovery's planned launch on Nov. 1. The flight to the will be Discovery's last.

Shuttle engineers met Monday afternoon to put together a repair plan. Later this week, technicians will tighten the bolts on the leaking fuel line. If that doesn't help, they may have to replace four seals or even part of the line.

Last week, replaced a cap in the system, but it did not stop the leak.

The rocket fuel is used to maneuver the shuttle while it's in orbit.

More information: NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission-pages/shuttle/main/index.html

©2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Citation: Space shuttle leaking, NASA working up repair plan (2010, October 18) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2010-10-space-shuttle-leaking-nasa.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

NASA Updates Target Launch Date for Shuttle Discovery

0 shares

Feedback to editors