Further Delay In Atlantis Launch
The problem with a power system aboard the ship forced the NASA officials to call off the Atlantis launch once again. Atlantis was scheduled to launch at 12.29 pm (1629 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida on Wednesday.
Shortly before the decision on whether or not to fuel the shuttle with supercold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for a launch attempt, the problem came into light. A low voltage reading came from one of the alternating current units indicating malfunctioning of one of the three cells that provide electricity to the space shuttle.
The lower voltage in the first unit spiked up the other two fuel cells thus delaying the shuttle launch. According to the rules efficient working of all three fuel cells is required for the launch to take place.
It may be recalled that the Atlantis launch had been called off twice earlier. Initially the take off was scheduled for August 27 when the lightning strike halted the attempt. Then the threat of Tropical Storm Ernesto forced NASA officials to declare the second launch attempt void.
The half way through construction mission of the International Space Station has already faced many delays. Another delay puts more pressure on NASA as the window period for the launch closes this week.
Further delay would mean postponing the Atlantis launch until October so as not to interfere with the Russian launch of Soyuz capsule scheduled for September 18 as officials fear a traffic jam at the space station if both space crafts meet there.
If things go well the next launch attempt will be tried at 12:03 p.m. on Thursday.
