Space Shuttle Discovery waits to launch on her last mission. STS-133 to the International Space Station. After a series of delays, and a number of tests being scheduled, the shuttle will not lift off of launch pad 39d any earlier than Feb. 3 of next year.
Right now the work is concentrating on processing work such as swapping out batteries, and preparing the shuttle for cold weather expected to come into the space coast.
After the bad weather clears, testing will be made on the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate. Two stringers have been repaired, and a section of foam replaced. These systems have not been cleared for flight as they still have to be tested.
Investigations into the exact reason the stingers failed are still ongoing, but options to begin tanking tests have been given the go ahead.
Discovery was to launch back in November, but cracks discovered in the External Fuel Tank were discovered causing the launch to be delayed.
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| The first pictures of the crack in the space shuttle's external fuel tank were posted not to NASA's website but to a blog. |
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| Space shuttle Discovery is prepared for its final launch into space, which is scheduled for Nov. 1, 2010 from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. |
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