Fuel sensor glitch delays Atlantis launch

[Rick]

The launch of space shuttle Atlantis has been delayed until tomorrow (Saturday) at the earliest after the failure of two of four sensors which monitor liquid hydrogen levels in the vessel's fuel tank, Reuters reports.

The glitch was spotted during routine checks as the tank was being filled with fuel. The offending sensors form part of a back-up safety system which shut down the shuttle's main engines once the ship reaches space, or "if a problem occurs after liftoff".

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/07/atlantis_launch_delayed/

[Rick]

Nasa officials have delayed the launch of space shuttle Atlantis until at least Saturday after engineers reported faults on two fuel gauges.

Two of the four sensors in the craft's external fuel tank indicated that the tank was dry, even though there was propellant inside, a spokesman said.

The US space agency initially said it would try to launch again on Friday.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7130817.stm

[Rick]

Nasa officials have further delayed the launch of space shuttle Atlantis until Sunday after engineers reported faults on two fuel gauges.

Two of the four sensors in the craft's external fuel tank indicated that the tank was dry, even though there was propellant inside, a spokesman said.

The launch had been set for Thursday, but has now been delayed three times.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7130817.stm

[Rick]

The US space agency Nasa has delayed launch of the Atlantis shuttle until 2008 because of a persistent problem with a sensor on a fuel tank.

Two attempts to launch the shuttle have been cancelled since Thursday, and only a few days remained for launch in the current window.

The 11-day mission was due to deliver Europe's first permanent space lab to the International Space Station (ISS).

A preliminary launch date has now been set for 2 January.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7135284.stm

[Rick]

NASA will next week fill the fuel tanks of space shuttle Atlantis for a third time, in an attempt to resolve sensor glitches which have led to two aborted launches.

A first scheduled lift-off was last week cancelled due to the failure of two of the four sensors which monitor liquid hydrogen levels in the vessel's fuel tank. A second slated attempt on Sunday to get Atlantis into orbit fell victim to the same problem.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/12/shuttle_launch_rescheduled/