Gas leaks force 1-day delay for Discovery's launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A pair of gas leaks has delayed next week's launch of space shuttle Discovery.

NASA ordered a minimum one-day postponement today after failing to plug a small helium gas leak aboard Discovery. A nitrogen gas leak also was detected. The problems are unrelated to a fuel leak that cropped up a few weeks ago.

Discovery's launch to the International Space Station is now scheduled for Tuesday afternoon — Election Day.

NASA test director Jeff Spaulding said if the latest repairs go well, the agency will press ahead with a Tuesday launch, even though it's Election Day.

Considerably more launch spectators than usual are anticipated, since this will be Discovery's 39th and final liftoff as the shuttle program winds down. Coupled with Election Day traffic, the roads almost certainly will be jammed.