NASA will launch the first of three final space shuttle missions next week, sending the shuttle Discovery on its last flight on a long-delayed cargo run to the International Space Station, officials told Dunya News Friday.
Problems with the ship s fuel tank have kept the mission on hold since November. An unrelated hydrogen leak forced NASA to cancel a launch attempt on 5th November 2010. Technicians then discovered a crack in the insulating foam that covers the shuttle s fuel tank, a potentially serious safety issue.
In 2003, space shuttle Columbia was damaged by a piece of foam insulation that fell off the tank and hit the ship s wing during liftoff. The shuttle broke apart as it flew through the atmosphere for landing 16 days later, killing all seven crewmembers aboard.
In 2003, space shuttle Columbia was damaged by a piece of foam insulation that fell off the tank and hit the ship s wing during liftoff. The shuttle broke apart as it flew through the atmosphere for landing 16 days later, killing all seven crewmembers aboard.
The shuttle will be carrying an Italian-made storage room that will be added to the $100 billion space station, a project of 16 nations nearing completion after 12 years of construction. The shuttle also will deliver food, science equipment and supplies for the six crewmembers aboard the station and a prototype humanoid robot.
Two spacewalks are planned during Discovery s weeklong stay at the station.
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