Pad Preps Under Way for Discovery's Seal Replacement

Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will begin pumping propellants out of tanks in the orbital maneuvering and reaction control systems today in order to replace two seals for a fuel line, which had been leaking, for shuttle Discovery’s orbital maneuvering system engines. Approximately 1,500 gallons of propellant will be offloaded.

Crews will replace the primary and secondary seals at a flange located at the interface where two propellant lines meet in the shuttle’s aft compartment. Work to replace the seals and reload propellants into the systems should be completed on Oct. 25 and is expected to still support Discovery’s targeted Nov. 1 launch date.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-133 crew will conduct its final integrated entry simulation today.‪‪