NASA scientists still looking for the Space Shuttle flaw

NASA scientists still looking for the Space Shuttle flaw

NASA has yet not found the reason behind the problem, which led to the cancellation of the launch of the Space Shuttle discovery last week. The team at the space agency is working round the clock analyzing the shuttle to find out the problem in the fuel sensor, which failed at the last moment while the NASA was loading the astronauts in the Shuttle. Discovery has to be launch before the end of the month otherwise NASA would have to wait until the month of September to get another launch window.

Nasa’s Bill Parsons said in a statement: “We’re still looking for the problem. This team is trying everything it can to launch in the July window.” The problem is in one of the four low-level fuel cut-off sensors found inside the shuttle’s external tank. These sensors warn the shuttle computers if the tank is about to run dry. This allows the shuttle computers to shut down the engines to prevent any damage.

If the engines are running and the fuel supplies cut off, it can damage the engine resulting in a bigger problem for the crew on board. This meant that the shuttle could not have launched into the space with the problem existing on the shuttle. Deputy shuttle programme manager Wayne Hale added: “Hopefully in the next 24 to 48 hours, we will find the glitch that has got us all confused or frustrated or pick your adjective, and be able to fix it and go forward. But I think Tuesday is probably the earliest day that we would be looking for a launch, even in that optimistic case.”

The mission is important for NASA to carry the supplies to the International Space Station currently the home of a crew of astronauts from various participating countries. It is also carrying repairing material for the oxygen generation on board the ISS.