The Space Shuttle Discovery has a mission planned to deliver cargo to the space station on April 5 but we hear this mission may now be in jeopardy due to a faulty leaky helium valve. NASA engineers are currently carrying out tests to see if the shuttle can still launch next month.

A crew of 7 astronauts are slated to go on the mission to the space station but to keep that launch date technicians will have to decide quickly if the shuttle is ready to fly. It was on Friday when technicians were preparing to load the two aft-mounted thrusters systems with propellant and were venting them, that they discovered the leak.

The pressure of the fuel helium tank suddenly dropped on the right side reaction control system, which means that either of the two isolation valves is leaking or is jammed open when it should be shut. According to Allard Beutel, a NASA spokesperson, engineers did eventually complete the fueling once the valves were manually closed.

A test to examine two helium system regulators is scheduled for later this week, which should be able to tell engineers if any further repairs will be necessary. The 13-day mission is one of the last 4 shuttle missions before the fleet is retired later this year, although other mission dates may have to be re-scheduled if this one is delayed.

For more on this report go to msn.com. Will you be sorry to see the demise of the space shuttle missions that have thrilled so many for so long or maybe you think there’s a better use for the money involved?