Shuttle fuel tank en route; Schedule options debated
View at Spaceflight Now
The shuttle Discovery's modified external tank may arrive at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, a day early, to kick off the final push toward launch of the second post-Columbia shuttle mission. But agency officials say unfinished foam work, testing and resolution of other on-going issues will make it extremely difficult for NASA to meet its May target launch date.
Even so, shuttle program manager Wayne Hale, chairing an external tank shipment review last week at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., opted to stick with a May 10 target date pending additional discussions at this Thursday's program requirements control board - PRCB - meeting in Houston.
The shuttle Discovery's modified external tank may arrive at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, a day early, to kick off the final push toward launch of the second post-Columbia shuttle mission. But agency officials say unfinished foam work, testing and resolution of other on-going issues will make it extremely difficult for NASA to meet its May target launch date.
Even so, shuttle program manager Wayne Hale, chairing an external tank shipment review last week at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., opted to stick with a May 10 target date pending additional discussions at this Thursday's program requirements control board - PRCB - meeting in Houston.
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