More Cracks

Four new cracks have appeared in the external tank of space shuttle Discovery. NASA says these cracks will be fixed using the same techniques applied to earlier cracks in the same tank.

This mission, the last for Discovery, was scheduled to go in early November, but weather problems, a gas leak, and the initial cracks in the tank delayed things. Launch is now scheduled for February 3, but that too might be pushed back.

Discovery seems in no hurry to go into retirement.