Agency To Determine How To Handle Tank Damage

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 03.21.07 1800 EDT: Repair or replace. That's the issue facing engineers at NASA, who on Wednesday determined they need more time to decide which course of action to pursue regarding damage to the shuttle's problematic external fuel tank.

NASA states all hail damage spots on the tank have been mapped out. Repair work has been completed on the bottom portion of the tank, the liquid hydrogen section. The damage on the middle part of the tank, or innertank, was superficial and will require little or no repair. There are 2,500 dings, mostly in the top of the tank, that will be reviewed to determine what type of repair technique may be required.

Shuttle program manager Wayne Hale told reporters if NASA decides to replace the tank, Atlantis would not launch until the middle of June. If the divots in the external fuel tank's foam insulation can be repaired -- many of which will require new foam to be poured into the depressions -- that date may be moved up to sometime in May.

NASA expects the teams to have the necessary data by April 10 to make that decision and to establish a potential target launch date.

Previous Report

1600 EDT: In a press conference scheduled one hour from now, NASA officials will reportedly announce the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis will be pushed to mid-May so engineers can repair an external fuel tank damaged in a late-February hailstorm.

Reuters reports NASA planning documents show the agency is now targeting a launch date of around May 11, in the middle of a launch window that starts in late April. The orbiter is heading for the International Space Station on a construction mission.

As Aero-News reported earlier this week, NASA has conducted detailed inspections to the shuttle since the orbiter was rolled back into the vehicle assembly building.

NASA has until May 21 to launch the shuttle, before the station's alignment with the sun is rendered unsuitable for Atlantis to be docked at the station. The next window opens June 8.

FMI: www.nasa.gov