Engineers filled the fuel tank of the space shuttle Discovery Friday in tests to help pinpoint the cause of defects that have delayed its launch. NASA has encountered numerous delays over the last month in trying to get Discovery off the ground for its farewell voyage before the shuttle fleet is retired. The mission was scheduled for liftoff in late October before several cracks found on brackets on the external tank prompted multiple delays. As part of tests to find the cause of the problem, engineers filled the tank with fuel while monitoring it for strains or cracks. An initial survey of the tank found no cracks had occurred during the test, but NASA said it would take several weeks to analyze its findings. Discovery is now set for launch no earlier than February 3, DPA reported.
