CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Shuttle Endeavours stalled Earth-mapping mission now is scheduled to get under way February 12, but NASA still is bidding to move the launch up a day, officials said Wednesday.
For now, Endeavour and six astronauts from the United States, Europe and Japan are slated to lift off from Kennedy Space Center during a launch window that will extend from 12:25 p.m. to 2:39 p.m. Eastern Standard Time February 12.
But officials from NASA and the Air Forces Eastern Range which provides launch-scheduling services for all flights from Floridas Space Coast still are discussing the possibility of moving the launch up to February 11.
"We took the 12th, but were still negotiating for the 11th," said Kennedy Space Center (KSC) spokesman George Diller.
A dress rehearsal for an upcoming Air Force Titan 4 rocket launch could dash those plans.
Now scheduled for February 10, the rehearsal involves fueling the 18-story Titan during what amounts to a practice countdown for the planned February 21 launch of the nations newest missile warning satellite.
A full day then would be needed to prepare range systems for a shuttle launch attempt, effectively blocking out a shuttle launch opportunity on February 11.
A network of ground stations on Floridas east coast and south Atlantic islands, the Eastern Range also provides rocket tracking and range safety services for all launches and major tests at KSC and Cape Canaveral Air Station.
It typically takes about 24 hours to reset range systems between a full-scale mission dress rehearsal and a launch attempt.
Senior shuttle program managers will hold a teleconference Thursday and select a firm target date for Endeavours next launch attempt.
The shuttles crew, meanwhile, headed back to Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston Wednesday.
An initial attempt to launch their 11-day Earth-mapping mission was scrubbed Monday because of rainy weather. NASA decided to forgo a launch attempt Tuesday so technicians could replace a faulty signal relayer that plays a crucial role in a shuttles eight-and-a-half minute climb into orbit.
The so-called Master Events Controller (MEC) is one of two units designed to route computer commands that ignite the shuttles twin solid rocket boosters and then jettison them two minutes into flight.
About the size of a small suitcase, the 65-pound devices also send commands to separate the shuttle from its 15-story external tank once the ship and its crew reach an initial orbit.
NASA flight rules call for both of the MECs to be operating properly before a shuttle is given a green light for flight. One of Endeavours signal relayers malfunctioned during Mondays scrubbed countdown, prompting mission managers to order its replacement.
"They take the Master Events Controllers very seriously," Kregel told SPACE.com before climbing aboard a T 38 training jet for the trip back to Texas. "They made the right decision."
While workers here press ahead with the signal relayer replacement work, Endeavours crew will spend the day Thursday boning up for launch in a mission flight simulator at JSC.
"Were going to head back and keep training, and well go when we have a good vehicle," Kregel said. "So see you in a couple of days."
The astronauts will return to KSC early next week.
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