Gas leak forces Discovery launch delay

2010-10-29 18:04

Cape Canaveral - A gas leak has delayed next week's launch of space shuttle Discovery.

Nasa on Friday ordered a one-day postponement after failing to plug a small helium gas leak aboard Discovery. It's unrelated to a shuttle fuel leak that cropped up a few weeks ago.

Discovery's launch is now scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Nasa test director Jeff Spaulding says if the latest repairs go well, the agency will press ahead with a Tuesday launch, despite heavy election-related traffic.

Many more launch spectators than usual also are anticipated, since this will be Discovery's 39th and final lift-off.

- AP