Discovery's launch still 'go' for Feb. 3 despite new cracks

Mission managers gave the go ahead Thursday to repair new cracks found on space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank.

However, they did not change the targeted Feb. 3 launch date.
 
The new cracks are similar to the ones that were discovered after Discovery's launch was scrubbed in early November. 

Cracks of approximately nine inches in the attachment points called stringers were found after the foam above them cracked and started to peel off. 

NASA repaired those cracks by using doublers to reattach the stringers, which run between the oxygen tank on top and the hydrogen tank below.
 
The newly discovered cracks are smaller -- only about two or two and a half inches long -- and were found on three adjacent stringers on the opposite side of the tank from the original problem.
 
At a program managers meeting in Houston Thursday afternoon, they gave the go ahead to fix these new cracks the same way. 

But it was new data they want to analyze before making any further decisions. 

Managers will meet again on Monday.
 
This does not affect the targeted Feb. 3 launch date. It could eventually, but they aren't ready to officially set a launch date yet.