NASA aims to launch shuttle on Sunday

US: NASA rescheduled the launch of space shuttle Discovery for Sunday after a fuel leak scuttled its first launch attempt on Wednesday, officials said.

Liftoff is set for 7:43 p.m. EDT (1143 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The purpose of the flight - the first of five planned for this year - is to deliver a final set of solar power panels to the International Space Station and transport Japan's first astronaut to serve as a member of the live-aboard station crew.

Wednesday's launch attempt was called off while the shuttle was being filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for the ride to orbit.

"We're sure that we have some hardware issues there," said shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach.

The leak appeared around a vent valve that releases hydrogen gases that have boiled off during the fill-up.

Discovery's mission had already been delayed a month due to safety concerns about fuel pressure valves, but after extensive testing and studies, managers cleared the ship for flight.

Wednesday's fuel leak was unrelated to the valve issue, NASA officials said.

The shuttle is to spend two weeks in orbit to deliver a $300 million set of solar wing panels and a new distiller for the station's urine recycling system.

Cape Canaveral,

Thursday, Reuters