Discovery launch threatened by Power Surges, Adhesive Concerns

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is hoping that the December 7 Discovery shuttle launch will proceed as scheduled, amidst problems with the shuttle rocket’s motor seal adhesive and a mild power surge in a mobile launcher platform power supply unit connected to the orbiter.

The Discovery STS-116 is scheduled to lift off at 9:35 pm at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This is the first night-time launch since the ill-fated Columbia mission that happened almost four years ago. The 12 day-mission will be carrying seven crews who are tasked to re-wire the International Space Station and shift it to a new electricity source.

Since 1998, the space station has been running on a temporary electrical system.

At a Tuesday evening press conference, Space Shuttle Program Launch Integration Manager LeRoy Cain said, "The preparation of the vehicle and teams has been outstanding. It's consistent with what the team has been doing time after time, case after case, problem after problem."

Cain also stated that it is too early to tell if they will decide on canceling the mission, citing the lack of available data. NASA employees are working round the clock to resolve the concerns.

The mission is also threatened by a cloudy weather forecast on its Thursday launch date. According to U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron, there is a 60% chance that the weather will cooperate on that date, while a lower 40% chance is given if the launch is moved to Friday or Saturday.

The launch countdown began at 11 p.m. Monday at the T-43 hour mark. Included in the countdown are nearly 28 hours of built-in hold time prior to a targeted 9:35 p.m. EST launch on Thursday.

The STS-116 mission is the 33rd for Discovery and the 117th space shuttle flight.