More delays for shuttle Atlantis – Launching in February Likely
NASA on Thursday delayed the flight of space shuttle Atlantis until late January or, more likely, February to replace a suspect connector in the fuel tank. The connector is believed to be responsible for back-to-back launch postponements last month. Deputy shuttle program manager John Shannon said the mission to the international space station is off until at least January 24.
NASA removed the external portion of the suspect connector, along with some plugs, over the weekend. It will be another two weeks before the parts are fully analyzed, mimicking the super-cold conditions of fueling, Shannon said. In the meantime, engineers will replace the external connector and make modifications — essentially soldering pins and changing the material of socket inserts. NASA requires at least five weeks between shuttle launches, which means that a flight by Endeavour to the space station, carrying up the first part of Japan’s massive lab, will not occur February 14 as planned.
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