Article Posted on : - Jan 07, 2011

Space Shuttle Discovery. Photo: NASA

WASHINGTON (BNS): NASA top space shuttle programme managers has delayed the Discovery's final flight yet again, to assess external tank cracks and repair scenarios, the space agency announced late Thursday.

According to the officials, the February 3rd liftoff will be delayed for approx a month.

"There is no official target launch date right now. I would only characterize as late February as the next opportunity,” SPACE.com quoted NASA spokesman Kyle Herring as saying.

"Shuttle officials want to be sure for the Discovery's 15-story external tank to be structurally sound for launch and won't pose a debris risk to the shuttle during liftoff," Herring added.

Discovery would not be ready for flight in time for the early February window, which runs from February to February 10, it said.