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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| Shuttle launch delayed until July | Shuttle launch delayed until July |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A new leak during fuelling has forced Nasa to postpone the launch from Florida of the space shuttle Endeavour until July at the earliest. | A new leak during fuelling has forced Nasa to postpone the launch from Florida of the space shuttle Endeavour until July at the earliest. |
| The shuttle was due to have blasted off early on Wednesday, but hydrogen gas leaked from a vent line on its external fuel tank, officials said. | The shuttle was due to have blasted off early on Wednesday, but hydrogen gas leaked from a vent line on its external fuel tank, officials said. |
| A previous gas leak postponed the shuttle's launch on Saturday. | A previous gas leak postponed the shuttle's launch on Saturday. |
| Endeavour had been due to deliver part of a Japanese laboratory to the International Space Station (ISS). | Endeavour had been due to deliver part of a Japanese laboratory to the International Space Station (ISS). |
| "At 1.55am (05.55 GMT) launch managers called a scrub, cancelling today's planned launch of space shuttle Endeavour on its STS-127 mission," a Nasa statement said. | "At 1.55am (05.55 GMT) launch managers called a scrub, cancelling today's planned launch of space shuttle Endeavour on its STS-127 mission," a Nasa statement said. |
| "Despite troubleshooting efforts, engineers were unable to achieve a decrease in the liquid hydrogen leak." | "Despite troubleshooting efforts, engineers were unable to achieve a decrease in the liquid hydrogen leak." |
| For an hour after the leak appeared during fuelling, engineers tried to fix the problem through remote commands. But they were finally forced to call off the pre-dawn launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. | For an hour after the leak appeared during fuelling, engineers tried to fix the problem through remote commands. But they were finally forced to call off the pre-dawn launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. |
| We were just not comfortable pressing on Mike Leinbach, Nasa | We were just not comfortable pressing on Mike Leinbach, Nasa |
| "I sure wish we could have rewarded them and the astronauts and everybody else with a launch this morning," said assistant launch director Mike Leinbach. | "I sure wish we could have rewarded them and the astronauts and everybody else with a launch this morning," said assistant launch director Mike Leinbach. |
| "But the leak was way out of spec again, and so we were just not comfortable pressing on." | "But the leak was way out of spec again, and so we were just not comfortable pressing on." |
| The shuttle's commander Mark Polansky commented: "It's a reminder that spaceflight is not routine." | The shuttle's commander Mark Polansky commented: "It's a reminder that spaceflight is not routine." |
| He added: "We will fly home to Houston this morning." | He added: "We will fly home to Houston this morning." |
| Sun angle | Sun angle |
| Launching before July 11 is no longer an option because of the angle of the Sun between 22 June and 10 July. | Launching before July 11 is no longer an option because of the angle of the Sun between 22 June and 10 July. |
| The shuttle would overheat if it was docked at the space station during this period of time. | The shuttle would overheat if it was docked at the space station during this period of time. |
| Endeavour was set to deliver the third and last segment of Japan's Kibo laboratory aboard the ISS. | Endeavour was set to deliver the third and last segment of Japan's Kibo laboratory aboard the ISS. |
| FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| Once the launch goes ahead, the astronauts will carry out five spacewalks to attach a permanent platform weighing 1.9 tonnes to Kibo. | Once the launch goes ahead, the astronauts will carry out five spacewalks to attach a permanent platform weighing 1.9 tonnes to Kibo. |
| They will also take up hundreds of pounds of food for the six space station occupants. | They will also take up hundreds of pounds of food for the six space station occupants. |
| A new ISS resident also was supposed to go up and swap places with a Japanese astronaut who has been on the station since March. | A new ISS resident also was supposed to go up and swap places with a Japanese astronaut who has been on the station since March. |
| During the mission, the ISS will be a temporary home to 13 astronauts - the first time so many have stayed on the station at once. | During the mission, the ISS will be a temporary home to 13 astronauts - the first time so many have stayed on the station at once. |
| Later on Wednesday a committee reviewing US plans for human space flight is holding a public hearing in Washington. | Later on Wednesday a committee reviewing US plans for human space flight is holding a public hearing in Washington. |
| It is examining Nasa proposals to replace the shuttle fleet and the agency's plans for manned space flight. | It is examining Nasa proposals to replace the shuttle fleet and the agency's plans for manned space flight. |
| President Obama has underlined the commitment of the US to return to the moon by the year 2020. | President Obama has underlined the commitment of the US to return to the moon by the year 2020. |
| The shuttle's new target date caused a scheduling conflict with the launch of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) satellite and its partner mission LCROSS. Lift-off of the unmanned spacecraft is now being targeted for Thursday or Friday. |