KSC-06-S-00098

Next on the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report: NASA announces a new launch planning window for Discovery. The NASA Space Shuttle Status Report starts right now. I'm Mark Ross, NASA test director, and this is the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report. Space Shuttle Program management announced a new launch planning window beginning July 1 and extending to July 19 for Discovery's launch to the International Space Station. This window provides the agency time to do additional engineering analysis to ensure a safe flight for Discovery and its crew. Following a two-day engineering discussion to determine if the external tank's engine cut-off -- or ECO sensors needed to be changed out, program management decided to remove and replace all four liquid hydrogen sensors in the external tank. These sensors indicate whether the tank still has fuel during liftoff. During testing, one of the four ECO sensors had a slightly different reading than expected. Technicians from Louisiana�s Michoud Assembly Facility, where the tanks are manufactured, will travel to the space center to perform the work. The removal and replacement of the sensors takes approximately 22 days to complete. Change-out work will be completed at Kennedy Space Center in the Vehicle Assembly Building's external tank checkout cell. In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, Discovery's remote manipulator system, or 'shuttle arm,' was removed from the payload bay. The lower, damaged section of the arm has been shipped to Canada so repairs can begin. Leak checks were successfully completed on all three space shuttle main engines and thermal protection system foaming operations around the engines are under way. The STS-121 mission will take Commander Steve Lindsey and six crew members to the International Space Station. This is the second mission in the return-to-flight sequence to evaluate new heat shield inspection and repair techniques and to deliver supplies and equipment to the station. That�s all the time we have for this week�s Space Shuttle Status Report, your inside look at NASA's space shuttles as they prepare for flight_ Until our next report, stay with NASA TV and nasa.gov for the latest in mission news. For the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report, I'm Mark Ross.