May Require Replacement

Engineers at NASA have discovered a potentially serious problem with the shuttle Atlantis, as it sits on the pad ahead of a planned launch later this month. At issue are a series of bolts holding the support box for a vital component called the KU-band antenna, to the inside of the orbiter's payload bay.

Technophiles may recognize the antenna as the component used to relay voice, video and data between the shuttle's crew and ground control, via NASA's fleet of orbiting communications satellites. Should the box break free during liftoff, it could cause catastrophic damage as it falls the length of the 60-foot-long cargo bay.

Now, here's the problem: there's no easy way for engineers to physically check the bolts while the shuttle sits on the pad... meaning that for now, NASA must rely on previous engineering reports to determine if the bolts may have come loose since the antenna was originally installed.

Incidentally, NASA has known of potential problems with the bolts for some time... in fact, the bolts were replaced onboard sister shuttles Discovery and Endeavour after it was found the bolts may have been manufactured too short to safely accomplish their task.

CBS News reports the bolts were not replaced in Atlantis, however.

A two-day flight readiness review is now underway... to determine, among other things, if... and how... the bolts should be replaced.

FMI: www.nasa.gov