In an attempt to ensure that space shuttle Discovery is safe to undertake its scheduled April 5 flight to the International Space Station for an outfitting mission, NASA will conduct a few safety tests later this week.

Discovery’s safety became a matter of concern after a ‘valve trouble’ – leading to helium leak - was noticed by NASA during the weekend, while the space agency officials were carrying out a critical propellant-loading operation at Kennedy Space Center. The valves are an integral part of a control system that maneuvers the shuttle in orbit and while its re-entry.

The tests will evaluate whether or not the two helium regulator valves downstream from the defective valve are working properly – that is, if they can maintain adequate pressures in the system in the eventuality of a valve leak or its failure to close during flight.

As per a Monday statement by NASA spokesman Allard Beutel, in case the tests are successful, Discovery and its seven-astronaut crew will blast off from launch pad 39A at 6:21 a. m. Eastern April 5.

However, if any valves require replacement, the shuttle will have to be moved back to the Vehicle Assembly Building; thereby resulting in a significant postponement of Discovery’s launch – which will also mess up the schedule for the last three shuttle missions planned for their launches on May 14, July 29 and September 16.