March 11, 2009

Candrea Thomas Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 candrea k thomas@nasa gov

Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-3749 katherine trinidad@nasa gov

RELEASE: 09-059

NASA SHUTTLE LAUNCH TARGETED FOR NO EARLIER THAN MARCH 15

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- Space shuttle Discovery's launch to the International Space Station now is targeted for no earlier than March 15 NASA managers postponed Wednesday's planned liftoff due to a leak associated with the gaseous hydrogen venting system outside the external fuel tank The system is used to carry excess hydrogen safely away from the launch pad

Liftoff on March 15 would be at 7:43 p m EDT The exact launch date is dependent on the work necessary to repair the problem Managers will meet Thursday at 4 p m to further assess the troubleshooting plan

Discovery's STS-119 flight is delivering the space station's fourth and final set of solar array wings, completing the station's truss, or backbone The arrays will provide the electricity to fully power science experiments and support the station's expanded crew of six in May The 14-day mission will feature four spacewalks to help install the S6 truss segment to the starboard, or right, side of the station and the deployment of its solar arrays The flight also will replace a failed unit for a system that converts urine to potable water

Commander Lee Archambault is joined on STS-119 by Pilot Tony Antonelli and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold, John Phillips and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata Wakata will replace space station crew member Sandra Magnus, who has been aboard the station for more than four months He will return to Earth during the next station shuttle mission, STS-127, targeted to launch in June 2009

For the latest information about the STS-119 mission and its crew, visit:

http://www nasa gov/shuttle

For information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www nasa gov/station

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