The pen may be mightier than sword, but a Pin ??????
NASA To Try Discovery Launch Again
Stray Hardware Delays Tuesday's Lift-off
By Brad Liston
Reuters
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Oct. 11) - NASA postponed the launch
of space shuttle Discovery on a construction mission to the
International Space Station on Tuesday when engineers found
a stray piece of hardware left behind by ground crews that
could have damaged the spacecraft after liftoff.
The launch of Discovery, the 100th in the U.S. shuttle
program's history, was rescheduled for Wednesday at 7:17
p.m. EDT, NASA said.
NASA has been trying... and now a pin have prevented it.
The postponement was caused by a small pin weighing about
eight ounces that was discovered precariously lodged on a
support strut between the shuttle's large external fuel tank
and the orbiter, some 30 feet above the launch pad.
... the countdown clock holding at 20 minutes, engineers
analyzed where the pin would strike as it fell off after
liftoff. They determined it could chip the insulating foam
on the fuel tank if it fell in one direction or strike an
engine covering on the orbiter if it fell the other way.
... countdown clock holding at 20 minutes, engineers
analyzed where the pin would strike as it fell off after
liftoff. They determined it could chip the insulating foam
on the fuel tank if it fell in one direction or strike an
engine covering on the orbiter if it fell the other way.
... Launch officials toyed with the idea of blasting it off
with water, but did not like having to guess what it might
hit as it dropped.
... the seven Discovery astronauts who had appeared full of
cheer as they arrived at the launch pad hours earlier, had
to depart on a Global bus, not a rocket...
01:31 10-11-00
Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
Republication or redistribution of Reuters content,
including by framing or similar means, is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. |
