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Lightning strikes delay Endeavour’s launch
by Jamie Anderson - July 12, 2009 - comments
Thunderstorms and lightning delayed the launch of space shuttle Endeavour to the ISS. The mission is now scheduled to begin it 16-day journey to space on Sunday.
Cape Canaveral, July 12: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) put off launch of the space shuttle Endeavour by a day to ensure that the spacecraft’s electrical systems were in good shape and had not been damaged by lightning strikes.
Eleven lightening strikes were reported within 0.3 nautical miles (0.35 miles) of Launch pad 39A from where the shuttle is scheduled to blast off for its 16 day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Engineers to assess and rectify damage
NASA confirmed that there were no direct strikes to the space shuttle and the decision to postpone the launch was a precautionary measure. Engineers of NASA will utilize this extra day to check and correct damage, if any, on the orbiter’s electrical systems.
“We just wanted to wait until we were really sure that everything was safe,” shuttle launch manager Mike Moses stated.
Endeavour launch that was scheduled for 7:39 p.m. local time Saturday has been postponed to 7:14 p.m. Sunday.
The launch of Endeavour was delayed by one month, when in June, the shuttle witnessed a leak in a system that vents excess hydrogen as the external fuel tank. Technicians have, since then corrected the problem and have given a go-ahead for the launch. The hydrogen leak problem had scuttled two launch attempts in the month of June itself.
Installation of Kibo laboratory
Endeavour’s 16-day mission to the ISS will feature five spacewalks wherein astronauts will deliver and install the second half of the Kibo laboratory which has been built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
The installation of this module of the Kibo laboratory would provide a “front porch” to the ISS, which would enable astronauts to conduct experiments in a milieu open to the elements and ravages of outer space.
Additionally, the crew is scheduled to deliver spare parts to the ISS and also restore batteries of one of the solar arrays that power the station.