NASA to change the fuel tank of Space Shuttle Discovery

NASA to change the fuel tank of Space Shuttle Discovery

Space Shuttle is now scheduled to fly to space in the middle of the July. NASA has already postponed the launch twice and now there is little scope for further delays. The American space organization is taking no chances with the security of the craft. As a result, the Space Shuttle Discovery would be flying to space with brand new and redeveloped external fuel tank.

NASA decided on Friday that the current tank was still not safe enough to ensure that something similar to Columbia Shuttle will not happen to it. And replacing the tank to the one planned for a future flight (Atlantis) is a faster option. They had already started the process required to replace the fuel tank earlier this week.

Discovery is due to be brought back to its hanger and will be fitted with fuel tank and solid rocket boosters originally planned for the Atlantis on NASA’s second post-Columbia shuttle mission later this year. NASA will then ship the shuttle back to its launch pad for the launch in mid of July. Switching the tank would help NASA concentrate on other issues related to the safety of the shuttle.

The shuttle however currently is scheduled to go under another fueling test using the tank already connected to Discovery sometime this week. This will give NASA enough data to study the mysterious problems, which occurred during the recent tests.