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Discovery Grounded By Hydrogen Leak

by Administrator

Discovery was kept on the ground after NASA engineers discovered the space shuttle was leaking hydrogen. The leak could have caused complications once the ship was put into orbit.

Launch Director Mike Leinbach explained yesterday that “the leak developed on the piping that runs from the fixed service structure, or launch tower, to a valve at the intertank section of the shuttle’s external tank” (see pic).

The agency elaborates: “The pipe moves hydrogen gas away from the shuttle and to a flare stack near the launch pad that burns it away safely. He said there was never any danger to the shuttle while it was being fueled, but that the leak allowed too much gaseous hydrogen to escape the vent line.”

NASA said they might be able to re-launch as soon as Sunday.