Lightning Delays Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA scrubbed space shuttle Endeavour's Saturday evening launch after lightning struck at least 11 times near the seaside launch pad.

NASA technicians found no damage after an electrical storm Friday afternoon, but said they will need at least another day to check critical systems.

A mission management team plans to meet early Sunday to determine if all the testing has been completed and whether to fuel Endeavour for a possible Sunday evening launch. Liftoff would be at 7:13 p.m. if NASA attempts to launch Sunday.

Mike Moses, chairman of that team, said there were 11 lightning strikes within three-tenths of a mile of the pad, although none of them struck the shuttle, external tank or the two solid rocket boosters.

At the pad, the shuttle has an elaborate lightning protection system with sensors and wires to direct lightning away from the shuttle and its rockets.

"The lightning protection system did its job," he said.

Moses said the assessment can be done in 24 hours, but there could be another delay if it isn't finished. A complete retest of the system could take two weeks.

Sunday's weather is expected to slightly better, with conditions 60 percent favorable for launch. The main concern will be thunderstorms.

Endeavour should have blasted off to the international space station in mid-June, but was grounded by potentially dangerous leaks of hydrogen gas. Repairs to a misaligned plate on the external fuel tank, which hooks up with a hydrogen vent line, solved the problem.

The shuttle and its crew are set to deliver and install the third and final piece of Japan's $1 billion space station lab, named Kibo _ Japanese for hope. The first two sections flew up last year.

Seven shuttle astronauts plus six station residents will make for the biggest crowd ever in orbit.

Five spacewalks are planned during the 16-day flight.

NASA has until Tuesday or possibly Wednesday to send up Endeavour before making way for the launch of an unmanned Russian supply ship. After that, the shuttle flight would be off until late July.

Comments

[TheMuckraker]

We are firing teachers, police and firefighters because we have to launch trillions of dollars into the sun.

WTG!

[Downix]

All three of course utilize space program technology every day, and all three are also funded by the states, not the federal program, so your argument is wasted.

[TheMuckraker]

My argument is only wasted if you CHOOSE to believe money that is not wasted on NASA could not be better used benevolently, elsewhere.

[TheMuckraker]

These launches are the same as corporate welfare.

[Downix]

Of course you realize that due to it being a public entity that all knowledge gained is given to the public for utilization, while corporate welfare means that all knowledge gained by the corporation is kept secret....

Your anger is valid, but directed in the wrong direction.

[TheMuckraker]

I happen to know the same defense contractors that get rich from war, also get rich from NASA.

You talk about "knowledge gained"... How does society profit from spy satellites and weaponizing space?

I think you have been sucked into the "Science is FUNdamental" propaganda.

The same oligarchy who starts civil wars to cull the herd of civilization, is working toward their own survival at the expense of the many.

Dont give them too much credit. We are being played.

[Whinger]

Shocking stuff, lightening that is!

[Downix]

Grr, and I took today off to see the launch too...

And I work tomorrow, maybe rain will delay it till monday?

[TheMuckraker]

or even better....­.

Delay it until we find a cure for cancer, solve global warming and feed the poor.

[Downix]

Of course you do realize that some of the experiments they do up there are there for doing just that, right, which means you want it delayed in order to delay the cure for cancer, solving global warming, and feeding the poor...

For what we get out of the space program, the cost involved is peanuts.