Sensors? Tracking a Launch Captain...

Stardate 4297.7

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA has cleared a plan to launch the space shuttle Discovery even if a mysterious fuel-gauge glitch reappears during the countdown toward a Tuesday launch attempt, mission managers said.

Well it has been 11 days since the last launch attempt was put on hold due to the fuel sensor problem. Now, the folks seem to think the sensor malfunctioned due to either grounding problem with the circuitry or electromagnetic interference. If the glitch appears again, under a very specific set of conditions of course, they have decided to go ahead with the launch this time. Basically, they have switched the connections between the "bad sensor" and one of the other threee "good" sensors. If one of the two goes out, there are some specific tests they can run and go ahead with the launch... if not? Well then we wait more :)