原先飞机该在2008年交付，但被延期至2009年，然后是2010年，而且，“我们对到2010年能得到飞机还是没有100%的信心。”史密斯说。
Originally, the aircraft were due in 2008, but this was delayed to 2009 and then 2010 and "we weren't 100% comfortable we would get them then," says Mr Smith.
欧洲航空防务与航天公司希望此举能节省约50亿欧元，以填补由延期造成的现金短缺。
EADS hopes this will save some 5 billion Euro dollars, to plug the cash hole caused by the delays.
美国航空航天管理局的发射主任迈克·莱因巴克说，这次发现号的最后飞行，曾经因为技术问题以及修理外油箱而几度延期，但它仍旧能承担太空飞行任务。
Discovery's final flight follows several delays due to technical problems and repairs to its external fuel tank, but NASA's mission launch director Mike Leinbach says the shuttle is still space-ready.
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