Discussion of: The Leak is Fixed

Workers removing the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate on the shuttle external fuel tank. Image credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

The hydrogen leak keeping the shuttle Endeavour  and STS-127  on the ground was determined to be a misalignment in a couple of plates on the External tank.  On June 24, the plates were removed and the problems were thought to be corrected.  The only way to be sure is to refill the External tank.  I had a couple of comments a while back wondering why the leaks could not be found before, and the answer has to do with the fact the tank has to be nearly full inorder for the vent valve to cycle.

This morning the “fix” was put to the test and by all accounts everything looks good.  While more details will be forthcoming the early press release is very positive.  Looks like STS-127 is ready to fly!

Here’s the press release:

Space shuttle Endeavour’s tanking test officially began at 6:52 a.m. EDT at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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