NASA Troubleshooting Valve Problem, Reschedules Launch

08.26.09 | FL News Team

(Cape Canaveral, FL) -- Problems with a valve forced NASA to scrub the latest attempt to launch Space Shuttle Discovery now engineers are scrambling to try and determine if something is wrong with the eight inch liquid hydrogen valve or the sensor that says if it's closed.

NASA's Mike Moses says they can't get accurate test results without first draining all of the super-cold fuel from the shuttle's tank. Under a best-case scenario, NASA can go ahead with a launch late Thursday night.

If the problem really is with the large valve near the shuttle's main engines it would be tough for crews to complete repairs before the launch window closes on Sunday.  The next chance to launch Discovery to the International Space Station wouldn't be until October.

Liftoff is set for 12:22 a.m. Friday morning.