Cabin Leak Threatens US Space Shuttle Launch

File image of Endeavour on the pad.

by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) July 31, 2007
NASA engineers have discovered a leak in space shuttle Endeavour's cabin and are rushing to find its source to prevent a delay in the mission's launch, a US space agency spokesman said Tuesday. The engineers found a small leak over the weekend after they closed the shuttle's hatch to check that the cabin seals properly during a routine check for the August 7 launch, NASA spokesman Kyle Herring told AFP. "You can't launch with a cabin leak," Herring said, adding, however, "At this point there is no delay of the launch."

Engineers are isolating valves that control cabin pressure to find the source of the leak and replace the defective item in time of the launch, he said.

The countdown for the launch is due to begin Saturday at 2302 GMT.

Endeavour is taking seven astronauts on a mission to continue the expansion of the International Space Station.

During the mission, the astronauts will install a new truss segment, a gyroscope and an external spare parts platform on the orbiting laboratory.

Source: Agence France-Presse

SHUTTLE NEWS

Endeavour Marches Toward Launch

Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) Jul 31, 2007
Space Shuttle Endeavour is ready to fly, NASA managers concluded July 26 after wrapping up the two-day flight readiness review at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Launch of Endeavour on the STS-118 mission is officially set for August 7. "On behalf of all the people that work on Endeavour, both here and really across the country, it's a great, great feeling to have Endeavour back on the pad," said Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach. "We're looking forward to a great launch."

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