STS-133 Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station Launches Thursday 21:50 GMT

The leak appears to be significant and is similar to what was seen on STS-119 and STS-127.

We are now in a 72 hour scrub. So that leaves us with a launch opportunity on Monday 8th at 17:53 GMT (12:53 EST) the final day of the current launch window. The next launch window for Discovery is Tuesday 30th November through to Saturday 5th of December.

The MMT are meeting now and a press briefing will follow.
 
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Breaking news: The next launch attempt has been postponed to no earlier than November 30th at 09:05 GMT (04:05 EST).
 
Kazz said:
:(
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Everyone shares your disappointment but it’s not that long to wait until the end of the month. :)

A last look at the pad:

495962main1011051609467.jpg
 
I take it discovery will stay on the pad until the 30th?
If so better pay for good weather until then, don't hailstones again...
 
mctiny said:
I take it discovery will stay on the pad until the 30th?
If so better pay for good weather until then, don't hailstones again...
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There are no plans to rollback Discovery as we are not in hurricane season. The rotating service structure provides adequate weather protection so the shuttle will stay in place unless something unforeseen occurs.
 
Don't forget the people up in the ISS. Here are two more pictures of the earth:

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Parts of Europe and Africa are very easily recognizable in this night time image shot by one of the Expedition 25 crew members aboard the International Space Station flying 220 miles above Earth on Oct. 28. The view "looks" northward over Sicily and the "boot" of Italy, with the Mediterranean Sea representing most of the visible water in the view and the Adriatic Sea to the right of center. Tunisia is partially visible at left. Part of a docked Russian spacecraft and other components of the ISS are in the foreground.

Image Credit: NASA
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493889mainiss025e009858.jpg

From 220 miles above Earth, one of the Expedition 25 crew members on the International Space Station took this night time photo featuring the bright lights of Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt on the Mediterranean coast. The Nile River and its delta stand out clearly as well. On the horizon, the airglow of the atmosphere is seen across the Mediterranean. The Sinai Peninsula, at right, is outlined with lights highlighting the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba.

Image Credit: NASA
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simulatorman said:
There are no plans to rollback Discovery as we are not in hurricane season. The rotating service structure provides adequate weather protection so the shuttle will stay in place unless something unforeseen occurs.
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Jolly good, I remember there being a case of storms before and it caused more delays and repairs to the external tank...
 
The mission was postponed because of a leak in ground umbilical carrier plate (GUCP). Let’s take a look at the GUCP:

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The shuttle service structure is now in place as we await inspections of the GUCP and the crack in the external tank foam.

A view of Discovery on pad 39A with the service structure in place. This was taken on the 31st of October:

 
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mctiny said:
Jolly good, I remember there being a case of storms before and it caused more delays and repairs to the external tank...
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It's happened a couple of times - the one you're probably thinking of is STS-117, where this:

170472main_07pd0549-m.jpg


caused an almost three-month delay (from March 15 to June 8, 2007).

Shorter delays have been caused on several occasions due to lightning strikes.

Anyway, the delay was all my fault. I was out of town and couldn't watch so Discovery just had to wait. :p

The next window is also a short one, extending Nov 30 through Dec 5 or so, so let's hope they get an early break. If it goes on time, we'll get the benefit of one last night launch. I don't mind mine no longer being the last one, honest. :)
 
We have progress on the crack which appeared in the external tank’s insulation just after the GUCP leak was discovered.

The foam insulation around the crack area has been cutaway and two cracks have been identified on a section of the external tank’s exterior. These cracks are in the vertical ribbing of the tank. The repair procedure is being evaluated and will be carried out at the pad. Whether this can be done by 30th is not yet known.
 
One for shuttle fans (no commentary) showing the start of the repair work:

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Further examination of the area where the two cracks were found will be carried out.

The faulty GUCP has been removed and a replacement is being fitted this weekend.
 
Berserker said:
It's happened a couple of times - the one you're probably thinking of is STS-117, where this:

170472main_07pd0549-m.jpg


caused an almost three-month delay (from March 15 to June 8, 2007).

Shorter delays have been caused on several occasions due to lightning strikes.

Anyway, the delay was all my fault. I was out of town and couldn't watch so Discovery just had to wait. :p

The next window is also a short one, extending Nov 30 through Dec 5 or so, so let's hope they get an early break. If it goes on time, we'll get the benefit of one last night launch. I don't mind mine no longer being the last one, honest. :)
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That's the kiddie I was thinking about, Discovery seems to ahve a lot of delays I just really hope that this is the last delay and that her last flight goes without any more hitches...
 
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