Launch rehearsal for shuttle crew

By Irene Mona Klotz
at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Commander Eileen Collins had thoughts for the crew of Columbia

The shuttle Discovery's astronauts, dressed in their bright orange spacesuits, scrambled aboard their ship and strapped in on Wednesday for the final hours of a practice launch countdown.

The dress rehearsal turned up a few problems before the dramatic scripted finale - a launch abort four seconds before lift-off - but that was precisely the purpose of the exercise, said Nasa spokesman George Diller.

Even if Wednesday had been the date of Discovery's lift-off, the launch would have been scrubbed well before the main engine shutdown.

The first problem was the overcast and rainy skies at the Florida spaceport.

The next glitch was when the launch team could not link the shuttle with the Air Force's tracking and range safety system, a requirement for launch.

We're going to get the shuttle flying; we'll get the International Space Station built and on to our exploration agenda Eileen Collins, STS-114 commander

Ultimately though, it is Discovery itself that remains unprepared for launch.

Managers last week ordered additional work on the ship's external fuel tank amid fresh concerns of potential debris strikes on the shuttle's delicate heat shield.

It means the orbiter will not now fly until July at the earliest.

Extended preparation

The last shuttle Nasa launched was Columbia on 16 January, 2003.

What Nasa did not know was that a chunk of foam insulation had slipped off the tank during lift-off and had hit the shuttle's wing with such force that its panelling was damaged.

As the ship flew through the atmosphere for landing 16 days later, it was torn apart. Seven astronauts died in the accident.

Nasa had hoped to launch Discovery this month on the first mission since the Columbia disaster, but decided to wait until at least July to upgrade the shuttle's tank.

Managers want to add an additional heater to thwart ice build-ups on the outside of the tank. Ice, like the foam that hit Columbia, could break away during launch and strike the ship.

Shuttle Discovery commander Eileen Collins said she and her crewmates agreed with Nasa's decision to postpone the launch.

The shuttle launch has now been pushed to July

"We cannot fly with what we define as unacceptable risk," Collins said.

"We're going to get the shuttle flying; we'll get the International Space Station built and on to our exploration agenda," she added, shortly before heading back to Houston after a three-day training exercise here at the Kennedy Space Center.

"This is a very short delay in the big picture," she explained.

Before the accident, Discovery's mission was to deliver and install a new gyroscope to the station, along with other critical gear and a new live-aboard crew.

For now, the Russians are handling crew transport and Nasa's goals for Discovery's mission shifted to proving that safety upgrades implemented after the Columbia accident are successful.

Collins said her crew was keenly aware of their ties to the fallen Columbia astronauts and that they planned to honour the Columbia crew with a special tribute during the Discovery flight.

Just being on the launch pad refreshed the memory of the Columbia astronauts, Collins added.

"Strapping in today, the thought did go through my mind that the last crew that had strapped in on the pad was the 107 crew," Collins said, referring to Nasa's designation for the final Columbia flight.

"Those thoughts occasionally go through my mind as I try to connect with the 107 crew as we've gone through training and carrying on their dream and their mission," she said.