Discovery Nasa Space Shuttle Launch
After the failure of first attempt to launch the discovery space shuttle on Wednesday, NASA is all set again to finally launch it today (Sunday -- March 15). The cause of failure was the leakage in hydrogen fuel tank of the space shuttle. This leakage might have been dangerous as it would have resulted in a fire hazard. Though the reason of the leakage was unknown, the engineers succeeded in repairing it in less time. Technicians started filling half million gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen at about 10 a.m. (1430 GMT) Sunday.
Space Shuttle Launch Schedule
The nasa shuttle launch is scheduled at 7:43 pm (2343 GMT) Sunday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the International Space Station (ISS).
Mike Leinbach, the director of shuttle launch told the reporters on Saturday that they have repaired the nasa space shuttle completely and are ready for the launch hoping for a favourble weather. They really needed to work fast because they had a small deadline of Tuesday or else a delay till April 7 due to Russia-led Soyuz mission would have been faced. Secondly this mission had already witnessed a delay of 1 month due to safety concerns about fuel pressure valves.
The space shuttle Discovery is on a construction mission to the International Space Station carrying the fourth and final solar power module of U.S. section of station which is a $100 billion project of 16 nations. The orbital outpost 220 miles (350 km) above Earth has been under construction for more than a decade.
This shuttle has seven crew members including Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who will be in charge as the station flight engineer. This is the first time for any Japanese to live on the outpost.
In addition to delivering a $300 million set of solar wing panels, the shuttle’s cargo includes a new distiller for the station’s urine recycling system.
The solar panels are inside a 16-tonne module that will complete the station’s 11-segment exterior backbone.
Space Shuttle Discovery’s “Night” Blast Off -- 03/15/09
Hydrogen Fuel is very promising, i only hope that we can mass produce soon enough.~.”
hydrogen fueled vehicles are the best but they are still not widely available.”‘.