Watch the full video below:CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has asked his country's legislature for permission to travel to Cuba for more medical treatment after spending much of the past 18 months fighting cancer.
STORY WRITTEN FOR & USED WITH PERMISSIONPosted: July 15, 2005Launch of the shuttle Discovery is on hold until late next week at theearliest, NASA officials said today, to give engineers time to fullytroubleshoot the fuel level sensor problem that grounded the spaceplaneWednesday.The launch team at the Kennedy Space Center had been maintainingDiscovery in an extended countdown "hold" while NASA managers debated theiroptions. But earlier today, deputy shuttle program manager Wayne Hale saidthe work needed to find and fix the problem that grounded Discovery willtake several days at least and that launch is out of the question until latein the week at the earliest.And that assumes the problem can, in fact, be resolved by then.Discovery's crew, meanwhile - commander Eileen Collins, pilot JamesKelly, flight engineer Stephen Robinson, Andrew Thomas, Wendy Lawrence,Charles Camarda and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi - was cleared to flyback to the Johnson Space Center to continue training and to await furtherdevelopments.The shuttle must get off the ground by July 31 or the flight most likelywill slip into September. The launch window is defined by a complexcombination of factors, including the shuttle's abiilty to reach theinternational space station; the nature of the station's orbit; and aNASA-imposed requirement to launch in daylight and to jettison the externaltank half a world away with enough light to see potential foam insulationloss.NASA managers are studying the possibility of extending the currentlaunch to Aug. 4, but that would require giving up the lighting required tophotograph the tank with a camera mounted in an umbilical cavity in thebelly of the shuttle where propellant lines enter the engine compartment.That imagery considered a high-priority item and it's not clear that seniormanagers would be willing to give those pictures up.Assuming the launch window is not extended, NASA would have find theproblem, fix it, verify the fix and close up Discovery's aft compartment byaround July 25 to preserve the final three days of the launch period. If theproblem is resolved faster, of course, the countdown could be restartedearlier.Early today, engineers unloaded hydrogen and oxygen used by the shuttle'selectrical generators before opening the ship's aft compartment to gainaccess to the fuel sensor electronics that route sensor data to Discovery'sflight computers.Discovery was grounded Wednesday two-and-a-half hours before blastoffwhen a routine computerized test revealed problems with one of the fourhydrogen fuel engine cutoff - ECO - sensors in the shuttle's external fueltank.The sensors are part of a backup system intended to make sure the ship'sengines don't shut down too early or run too long, draining the tank drywith potentially catastrophic results. All four sensors are required for acountdown to proceed. Here's a recap of the problem to date:ECO SENSOR BACKGROUNDNASA has encountered a string of problems in recent weeks with the ECOsensor system in Discovery, glitches that have proven to be surprisinglydifficult to resolve. The problems began during a tanking test in April whenECO sensors 3 and 4 operated intermittently.Engineers removed an electronic controller, called a point sensor box,from Discovery and replaced wiring to the two sensors in question (wiring tosensors 1 and 2 wasn't touched). But the controller checked out OK andtroubleshooters were unable to trace the cause of the problem A point sensorbox from the shuttle Atlantis was installed and a second fueling test wasconducted.This time around, the sensors worked normally. But during additionalpost-test troubleshooting, the replacement sensor controller boxmalfunctioned. It was replaced by one taken from the shuttle Endeavour. NASAalready had decided to replace Discovery's tank to address ice debrisissues. With a fresh controller, replacement cabling, a new tank and solidtest results, NASA managers decided to treat the sensor issue as an"unexplained anomaly" that presumably had been fixed.But during Wednesday's countdown, the No. 2 low-level hydrogen sensorfailed to switch from "wet" to "dry" during a test in which computers sendsignals to simulate a dry tank. When the tank was drained, the other threesensors changed from wet to dry as expected. The No. 2 sensor remained "wet"for another three hours before switching back to "dry."The engineering teams assessing the problem are reviewing the history ofthe sensors, cabling and control electronics, changes made in the fuel tanksince Columbia's ill-fated flight in 2003, changes made to Discovery sinceit last flew in 2002 and any procedural changes that might possibly have animpact.At launch pad 39B, meanwhile, engineers plan to verify the cablingleading from the point sensor box to various connectors and ultimately, intothe tank through a complex umbilical connection.If a problem is found in the point sensor box, NASA would still be facedwith explaining the sensor problems encountered during the tanking test inApril, the original "unexplained anomaly" that NASA managers accepted goinginto Wednesday's countdown.Many engineers believe the problem may be related to one or more changesmade in the wake of the Columbia disaster, but at this point, that remainsspeculation.Additional coverage for subscribers:VIDEO:THURSDAY'S UPDATE NEWS CONFERENCE AUDIO:LISTEN TO THE NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEOOST-SCRUB NEWS CONFERENCE VIDEO:WEDNESDAY'S LAUNCH IS SCRUBBED VIDEO:ASTRONAUTS DEPART QUARTERS FOR LAUNCH PAD VIDEO:CREW DONS LAUNCH SPACESUITS VIDEO:ASTRONAUTS GATHER FOR PRE-LAUNCH SNACK VIDEOAD'S ROTATING SERVICE STRUCTURE ROLLED BACK MORE: Ares 1-X PatchThe official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase.Apollo CollageThis beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.Expedition 21The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores.Hubble PatchThe official embroidered patch for mission STS-125, the space shuttle's last planned service call to the Hubble Space Telescope, is available for purchase. | | | | 2014 Spaceflight Now Inc.Spaceflight Now +Premium video content for our Spaceflight Now Plus .Discovery goes northDiscovery's rollout enters the early evening as the shuttle heads north toward launch pad 39B. (6min 15sec file)Past one padAs viewed from the Vehicle Assembly Building, space shuttle Discovery rolls northward and past launch pad 39A in the background. (4min 23sec file)Crawlerway splitThe transporter reaches the point where the crawlerway splits into two paths to the Complex 39 pads and makes the turn for pad 39B. (7min 11sec file)Down the crawlerwayShuttle Discovery makes its way down the crawlerway under beautiful Florida skies. (5min 00sec file)Rollout of DiscoverySpace shuttle Discovery begins its 4.2-mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to launch pad 39B atop the Apollo-era crawler-transporter. (10min 30sec file)Docking Timeline COMPILED BY WILLIAM HARWOODPosted: July 27, 2005Changes and additions:- July 27: Posting initial version of timelineDownload a of the timeline. Ares 1-X PatchThe official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase.Apollo CollageThis beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.Expedition 21The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores.Hubble PatchThe official embroidered patch for mission STS-125, the space shuttle's last planned service call to the Hubble Space Telescope, is available for purchase. | | | | 2014 Spaceflight Now Inc.STS-114 Mission Specialist 3Andrew S. W. Thomas NASA BIOGRAPHYPosted: December 19, 2004 Credit: NASAPERSONAL DATA: Born December 18, 1951, in Adelaide, South Australia. Single. He enjoys horse riding and jumping, mountain biking, running, wind surfing, and classical guitar playing. His father, Adrian C. Thomas, resides in Hackham, South Australia. His mother, Mary E. Thomas, resides in North Adelaide, South Australia.EDUCATION: Received a bachelor of engineering degree in mechanical engineering, with First Class Honors, from the University of Adelaide, South Australia, in 1973, and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Adelaide, South Australia, in 1978.ORGANIZATIONS: Honorary Fellow, The Institution of Engineers Australia.EXPERIENCE: Dr. Thomas began his professional career as a research scientist with the Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, Marietta, Georgia, in 1977. At that time he was responsible for experimental investigations into the control of fluid dynamic instabilities and aircraft drag. In 1980, he was appointed Principal Aerodynamic Scientist to the company and headed a research team examining various problems in advanced aerodynamics and aircraft flight test.This was followed in 1983 by an appointment as the head of the Advanced Flight Sciences Department to lead a research department of engineers and scientists engaged in experimental and computational studies in fluid dynamics, aerodynamics and aeroacoustics. He was also manager of the research laboratory, the wind tunnels, and the test facilities used in these studies. In 1987, Dr. Thomas was named manager of Lockheed's Flight Sciences Division and directed the technical efforts in vehicle aerodynamics, flight controls and propulsion systems that supported the company's fleet of production aircraft.In 1989, he moved to Pasadena, California, to join the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and, shortly after, was appointed leader of the JPL program for microgravity materials processing in space. This NASA-sponsored research included scientific investigations, conducted in the laboratory and in low gravity on NASA's KC-135 aircraft, as well as technology studies to support the development of the space flight hardware for future Shuttle missions.NASA EXPERIENCE: Dr. Thomas was selected by NASA in March 1992 and reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992. In August 1993, following one year of training, he was appointed a member of the astronaut corp and was qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle flight crews.While awaiting space flight assignment, Dr. Thomas supported shuttle launch and landing operations as an Astronaut Support Person (ASP) at the Kennedy Space Center. He also provided technical support to the Space Shuttle Main Engine project, the Solid Rocket Motor project and the External Tank project at the Marshall Space Flight Center. In June 1995 Dr. Thomas was named as payload commander for STS-77 and flew his first flight in space on Endeavour in May 1996. He next trained at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia in preparation for a long-duration flight. In 1998, he served as Board Engineer 2 aboard the Russian Space Station Mir for 130 days. Dr. Thomas completed his third space flight on STS-102 and has logged over 163 days in space. From August 2001 to November 2003, Dr. Thomas served as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office.Dr. Thomas is currently assigned to the crew of STS-114. He will serve as MS-3 on the Return To Flight mission during which the crew will test and evaluate new procedures for flight safety and Shuttle inspection and repair techniques.SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-77 was a 10-day mission during which the crew deployed two satellites, tested a large inflatable space structure on orbit and conducted a variety of scientific experiments in a Spacehab laboratory module carried in Endeavour's payload bay. The flight was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on May 19, 1996 and completed 160 orbits 153 nautical miles above the Earth while traveling 4.1 million miles and logging 240 hours and 39 minutes in space.On January 22, 1998, Dr. Thomas launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour as part of the STS-89 crew to dock with the Mir Space Station. He served aboard Mir as Flight Engineer 2 and returned to earth with the crew of STS-91 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on June 12, 1998, completing 141 days in space and 2,250 orbits of the earth.STS-102 Discovery (March 8-21, 2001) was the eighth Shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station and Dr. Thomas's third flight. Mission accomplishments included the delivery of the Expedition-2 crew and logistics resupply with the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, and the return to earth of the Expedition-1 crew. During the mission, Dr. Thomas performed an EVA of 6.5 hours to install components to the outside of the space station. Mission duration was 307 hours and 49 minutes.Ares 1-X PatchThe official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase.Apollo CollageThis beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.Expedition 21The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores.Hubble PatchThe official embroidered patch for mission STS-125, the space shuttle's last planned service call to the Hubble Space Telescope, is available for purchase. | | | | 2014 Spaceflight Now Inc.Engine Cut-Off Sensor Background BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
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The immigration reform bill drafted by Menendez and seven other members of the "gang of eight" easily cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday by a 15-3 vote, an encouraging sign for reform proponents. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., will bring the bill to the floor in early June. His Republican counterpart, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said he will not block the bill from being introduced on the floor, but opponents of the legislation will still have the opportunity to filibuster the legislation and require 60 votes for final passage.
"I never got a good indication from the plant folks how bad the leak was, how much was going to the river, anything else. It was probably a little ways into the incident before we realized how bad it was getting into the river."State budget talks are in the home stretch and should reach a final agreement by tonight.
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