The US space agency NASA has stated that the shuttle managers have decided to launch the space shuttle Discovery for a two-week mission to the International Space Station, next Wednesday.

NASA reported that the shuttle managers took the decision to launch the space shuttle Discovery on 11 March, after conducting a lot of engineering tests and computer simulations, and resolving issues associated with a critical fuel valves that delayed the launch in November.

According to NASA, the shuttle managers decided to push up the launch, which has been delayed repeatedly, by one day. The shuttle managers say they are now "confident that the three latest hydrogen gas valves aboard Discovery are free of cracks and will perform as expected during launch".

However, NASA said the date has not been finalized yet. The top officials will hold meeting on Friday to finalize the date.

Originally, the launch of the space shuttle Discovery was scheduled for Feb, but NASA delayed the launch to conduct more tests on the valves, when it found some issues with the shuttle's pressure valves. The space shuttle Discovery is set to fly with its seven-man crew to the international space station.