CAPE CANAVERAL - Needing
more time to study data, NASA is putting off a decision about how best to
repair a faulty fuel sensor system in shuttle Atlantis until after Christmas.
The move could once again
push back a launch to the International Space Station targeted for no
earlier than Jan. 10.
The space agency also
halted the assembly of components for the following space shuttle mission,
currently set for Feb. 14. Delaying January's flight, however, will affect the
schedule for subsequent missions.
NASA managers said they
need more time to analyze data from a Tuesday
tanking test that pinpointed faulty through-tank connectors as the cause of
intermittent low-fuel sensor readings that scrubbed
two launch attempts earlier this month.
"It told them all
kinds of things," NASA spokesman George Diller said.
NASA managers hope to
authorize a repair plan at a Dec. 27 meeting, Diller said.
On Wednesday, shuttle
technicians were told to remove foam around the connector.
"Some foam is going to
have to come off if they're going to get to those connectors," Diller
said.
NASA managers put on hold
the planned connection of two solid rocket boosters and an external tank for
Endeavour's planned mission in February. That will allow more access to the
sensor connectors if repairs on that tank are necessary too.
Published
under license from FLORIDA TODAY. Copyright: 2007 FLORIDA TODAY. No portion of
this material may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of FLORIDA TODAY.
advertisement
