Countdown Begins for Discovery's Dec. 17 Tanking Test

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the countdown for the tanking test on space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank began on time at 9 p.m. EST at T-33 hours.

Teams are not working any issues that would delay the test, which is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 17.

The test will help verify repairs associated with cracks on the tops of two 21-foot-long, U-shaped aluminum brackets, called stringers, on the external tank.

Data collected from the strain gauge and thermal couple sensors will potentially help engineers determine what caused the cracks during Discovery's launch countdown on Nov. 5. Technicians repaired the cracks and reapplied foam insulation on the stringers last month.

Results of the instrumented test will not be known immediately. Managers and engineers will review the data gathered from the test before determining the next course of action. Discovery’s next launch opportunity is no earlier than 1:34 a.m. on Feb. 3.