Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/17/endeavour_launch_scrubbed/
Endeavour launch scrubbed again
Hydrogen vent system not in such good shape
Posted in Space, 17th June 2009 08:54 GMT
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NASA has scrubbed today's planned launch of space shuttle Endeavour - the second such knock-back due to a gaseous hydrogen leak and despite assurances (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/16/endeavour_update/) yesterday that the vehicle was "in good shape" to go.
The agency canned the lift-off at 05:55 GMT after detecting an escape in at the "Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate" (in pic) - part of the system "used to carry excess hydrogen safely away from the launch pad" and at "the same location where a similar leak resulted in a launch scrub on June 13".
NASA reports: "Vent valve troubleshooting took place for about an hour before it became clear the problem could not be solved."
Deputy Space Shuttle Program Manager LeRoy Cain said: "We're going to step back and figure out what the problem is and go fix it. Once we get it fixed, and we're confident that we have a solution that's going to work and allow us to go fly safely, then we'll proceed forward."
NASA has had a lot of trouble with its hydrogen venting. Back in March, the same problem temporarily grounded (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/12/discovery_grounded/) Discovery's STS-119 mission (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts119/119_overview.html) to the ISS.
The latest set-back means Endeavour's STS-127 mission (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts127/index.html) to the International Space Station (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/) will not get under way until 11 July at the earliest. ®