William Atkins
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 19:13
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 2
On June 17, 2009, NASA was again forced to postpone the launch of its STS-127 mission to complete the Japanese Kibo laboratory on the Space Station because of a gaseous hydrogen leak outside of its external tank. No liftoff until at least July 11.
NASA mission officials scrubbed the STS-127 mission early Wednesday morning, June 17, 2009, after the leak appeared during the routine filling of the external fuel tank (ET) with gaseous hydrogen fuel.
Even without the leak, the pre-launch team was having difficulties filling the fuel tanks because of severe thunderstorms passing over the Florida launch site.
They were already three hours behind schedule, and under pressure to make the fixed deadline of a 5:40 a.m. launch time.
The leak appeared at the same spot where it was earlier spotted, which lead to the postponing of the June 13 launch to June 17.
According to the NASA news brief
Fuel leak again postpones launch of space shuttle Endeavour,
“The gaseous hydrogen venting system is used to carry excess hydrogen safely away from the launch pad. Wednesday's leak is similar to one that prevented Endeavour's launch on June 13.”
The mission will have to wait until July 11, its next launch opportunity, because of a restriction called a beta angle.
More information on the beta angle, and NASA's mission to the Moon, which is scheduled to launch on Thursday or Friday, is found on page two.
