#news Hydrogen leak forces fifth delay to U.S. shuttle launch

Undated photo released by NASA shows Xenon lights illuminate space shuttle Discovery on Launch Pad 39A following the retraction of the rotating service structure. (NASA/Troy Cryder)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced Friday morning the fifth delay to the launch of space shuttle Discovery, citing a hydrogen leak.

According to NASA, the leak was detected in the ground umbilical carrier plate, or GUCP, an attachment point between the external tank and a 17-inch pipe that carries gaseous hydrogen safely away from Discovery to a flare stack, where it is burned off.

Shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach characterized the leak as "significant," similar to what was seen on last year's two shuttle missions.

The external tank is being drained and will be inerted for about 20 hours before it is safe for technicians to look at the GUCP on Saturday.

The Space Shuttle Program Mission Management Team will meet Saturday after technicians have had the opportunity to troubleshoot the hardware, then determine if it is possible to achieve a launch attempt Monday.

According to NASA, the earliest launch opportunity for Discovery is Nov. 8, at 12:53 p.m. EST (1553 GMT), which is also the last date Discovery can launch in this window. The next launch window for Discovery is Tuesday, Nov. 30 through Saturday, Dec. 5.

Discovery was supposed to lift off Monday, but gas leaks, an electrical problem with a backup controller and bad weather has forced four delays.

Discovery's 11-day mission is its final scheduled flight, and the fourth and final shuttle mission planned for 2010.

The six astronauts for the mission will deliver a Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) to the International Space Station. Two space walks, for maintenance work and component installation, are also scheduled.

The PMM was converted from the multipurpose logistics module Leonardo and will provide additional storage for the station crew. Experiments in such fields as fluid physics, materials science, biology and biotechnology can be conducted inside the module.

The PMM also carries Robonaut 2, the first human-like robot in space, which will become a permanent resident of the station. In addition, the flight will deliver critical spare parts and an external platform that holds large equipment.

Graphics shows NASA announcing on Oct. 25, 2010 that space shuttle Discovery will be launched on Nov. 1. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

Undated photo released by NASA shows Xenon lights illuminate space shuttle Discovery on Launch Pad 39A following the retraction of the rotating service structure. (NASA/Troy Cryder)

Undated photo released by NASA shows Xenon lights illuminate space shuttle Discovery on Launch Pad 39A following the retraction of the rotating service structure. (NASA/Troy Cryder)

Undated photo released by NASA shows Xenon lights illuminate space shuttle Discovery on Launch Pad 39A following the retraction of the rotating service structure. (NASA/Troy Cryder)

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