STS-119 Launch Slips A Week

Shuttle Discovery Launch Now No Earlier Than Feb. 19
“During a review of space shuttle Discovery’s readiness for flight, NASA managers decided Tuesday to plan a launch no earlier than Feb. 19. The new planning date is pending additional analysis and particle impact testing associated with a flow control valve in the shuttle’s main engines. Discovery’s STS-119 mission to the International Space Station originally had been targeted for Feb. 12. The valve is one of three that channels gaseous hydrogen from the engines to the external fuel tank. One of these valves in shuttle Endeavour was found to be damaged after its mission in November. As a precaution, Discovery’s valves were removed, inspected and reinstalled.”