Shuttle launch pushed back to Monday
Posted: Fri, Apr 5, 2002, 10:23 PM ET (0323 GMT)
NASA announced Friday that it would delay the launch of the shuttle Atlantis an additional day, to Monday, to allow more time to complete repairs of a hydrogen vent line that leaked on Thursday. The additional day is designed to give crews enough time to fix a cracked weld in a 40-cm diameter aluminum pipe that vents excess hydrogen during fueling of the shuttle's external tank. The weld cracked about an hour into the fueling process on Thursday, forcing NASA to delay the launch first until Friday, then until Sunday. NASA would not disclose the time of the launch, only saying that it is scheduled for between 2 and 6 pm EDT (1800 and 2200 GMT), but outside analysts have estimated the launch time to be 4:36 pm EDT (2036 GMT) based on the orbit of the International Space Station. Weather is forecast to be excellent in Florida, but poor weather conditions at all three transatlantic orbit landing sites could pose a problem for a Monday launch.
NASA announced Friday that it would delay the launch of the shuttle Atlantis an additional day, to Monday, to allow more time to complete repairs of a hydrogen vent line that leaked on Thursday. The additional day is designed to give crews enough time to fix a cracked weld in a 40-cm diameter aluminum pipe that vents excess hydrogen during fueling of the shuttle's external tank. The weld cracked about an hour into the fueling process on Thursday, forcing NASA to delay the launch first until Friday, then until Sunday. NASA would not disclose the time of the launch, only saying that it is scheduled for between 2 and 6 pm EDT (1800 and 2200 GMT), but outside analysts have estimated the launch time to be 4:36 pm EDT (2036 GMT) based on the orbit of the International Space Station. Weather is forecast to be excellent in Florida, but poor weather conditions at all three transatlantic orbit landing sites could pose a problem for a Monday launch.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, March 19
ESA selects Thales Alenia Space and OHB proposal for Third-Generation Meteosat satellites
Thales Alenia Space — 6:59 pm ET (2259 GMT) ESA and Thales Alenia Space enter negotiations for MTG
ESA — 6:58 pm ET (2258 GMT) How Condensation in Space Almost Ruined "Hubble 3D"
WRC-TV Washington DC — 6:50 pm ET (2250 GMT) Room for Debate: Where, If Anywhere, Is NASA Headed?
Scientific American — 6:49 pm ET (2249 GMT) Rep. Gordon dismisses rumor he traded healthcare vote for NASA job
The Hill — 6:48 pm ET (2248 GMT) |