Space shuttle launch postponed a day

By Marcia Dunn

Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – With just nine hours remaining until liftoff, NASA today delayed the launch of space shuttle Endeavour by a day because of a Russian supply ship that is poorly docked to the international space station.

Shuttle managers decided to give engineers until Friday to make sure no damage would result from Endeavour’s own docking. The concern was that a wobbly supply ship might structurally harm the station, because of the forces imparted by the visiting shuttle.

Endeavour had been scheduled to blast off this evening on a mission to exchange crews aboard the international space station. The problem with the newly arrived supply ship arose late Wednesday, shortly after the vessel linked up with the 250-mile-high outpost.

Fighter jets, attack helicopters and military personnel in camouflage provided an unprecedented backdrop as NASA headed into the final hours of its countdown. Air Force officials promised the same level of security would be available for Friday evening’s launch attempt, to protect against terrorist attacks.

Russia’s Mission Control outside Moscow suspects a cable may be blocking the docking mechanism between the space station and Progress supply ship. Space officials there are proposing that two of the station crew go out on a spacewalk to try to clear the area, possibly as early as next week, said NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries.

Such a spacewalk could be conducted while Endeavour is docked to the station, Humphries said.

“The Russians have told us they believe it’s safe for us to dock,” he said. “But we are continuing our analysis … to make sure that we agree.”

Space station commander Frank Culbertson and his two Russian crewmates told flight controllers they could see a cable floating from the spot where the supply ship was attached. “Good luck to you guys,” a Russian flight controller radioed.

Endeavour is to drop off three men for a half-year stay and bring back Culbertson and the two Russians, who have been living on the space station since August. The shuttle also will carry thousands of U.S. flags in tribute to those killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Good weather was forecast for Friday’s launch attempt, and the shuttle was looking in top form, too. NASA halted the countdown right before the launch team was to begin loading fuel into Endeavour’s giant tank, and the seven astronauts had yet to board.

Air Force officials say they’re doing everything reasonable to protect Endeavour from a terrorist attack, especially once its external fuel tank is loaded with more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and its crew climbs aboard.

In addition to the military show of force, the Federal Aviation Administration prohibited small planes from flying within 35 miles of the launch pad, extending the ban through Friday night and, in effect, shutting down local airports. The previous limit was 6 miles. All boaters were ordered to stay at least 3 miles offshore Friday night.

“This is an unprecedented level of effort and certainly is appropriate considering that the United States is at war and this is an area where we know terrorists did frequent,” said Air Force Col. Sam Dick, vice commander of the nearby 45th Space Wing.

Many of the terrorists who hijacked the jetliners lived and operated in Florida – “and there could be others,” Dick warned this week. He refused to say whether any threats have been made against Kennedy Space Center or the space shuttle.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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