Also Pushes Off ISS Repositioning Due To Glitches During a
review of space shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight, NASA
managers decided Tuesday to plan a launch no earlier than
February 19 -- one week later than original targets. The new
planning date is pending additional analysis and particle impact
testing associated with a flow control valve in the shuttle's
main engines. The valve is one of three that channels gaseous
hydrogen from the engines to the external fuel tank. NASA found
one of those valves damaged in Endeavour after that shuttle's
mission in November. As a precaution, Discovery's valves were
removed, inspected and reinstalled. It's not clear yet what the
nature of the problem is. The Space Shuttle Program will convene
a meeting on February 10 to assess the analysis. On February 12,
NASA managers and contractors will continue the flight readiness
review, which began Tuesday, to address the flow control valve
issue and to select an official launch date. Discovery's STS-119
mission to the Inte