航宇局计划在8月发射“发现”号航天飞机,进行第26次航天飞机飞行,并且将把8月4日作为计划发射飞行准备日期(已推迟到8月下旬)。但是航宇局管理部门决定不宣布8月4日为正式目标,这样可以给这项计划更多的灵活性,而且还可以避免在今后几个月中当需要调整发射进度表时引起批评。新发射日期是航宇局在对航天飞机主发动机和固体助推器后裙上检 NASA plans to launch the space shuttle Discovery in August for the 26th space shuttle and August 4 for the scheduled launch flight preparation date (postponed until late August). However, the decision by NASA administration not to declare its official goal on 4 August would give the program more flexibility and could also avoid criticism in the coming months when it was time to adjust the launch schedule. The new launch date is the space agency seized on the shuttle’s main engine and solid booster skirt