NASA delays shuttle launch to fix tank

NASA says it will delay the launch of space shuttle Atlantis at least until June 8 so that its hail-damaged fuel tank can be repaired.

The tank’s insulating foam was damaged on the launch pad during a freak hail storm in February, forcing the ship back into a processing hangar for repairs.

The US space agency had hoped to fix the dings and gouges in the tank in time to launch Atlantis in May on a mission to deliver more power modules to the International Space Station.

But NASA officials said the work cannot be finished before the launch window closes on May 21.

They will have to wait until at least June 8, when the sun will again be in a suitable position to avoid overheating the shuttle while it is docked at the space station in orbit.

Shuttle program manager Wayne Hale says that launch window lasts until July 17.

“The confidence is high that we will fly in the June-July window,” he said.

NASA has considered waiting until a replacement tank was ready but is confident the tank already attached to the shuttle can be repaired.

“As of right now, we’re going to stay with the tank that’s on the stack,” Mr Hale said.

“Progress is being made adequately to do that.”

NASA has been particularly sensitive about the tank’s insulation since the 2003 Columbia accident, which was triggered by a piece of tank foam debris that fell off and hit the shuttle’s heat shield during lift-off.

The shuttle broke apart, killing all seven astronauts aboard, as it attempted to return through the atmosphere for landing.

The US space agency has to fly at least 13 more missions to the space station to complete its assembly before the shuttle fleet is retired in 2010.