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Suspect sensor stays 'wet' after tank drained BY WILLIAM HARWOOD STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION Posted: September 8, 2006 Engine cutoff - ECO - sensor No. 3, the one that "failed wet" earlier today and derailed an attempt to launch the shuttle Atlantis, continued indicating it was immersed in liquid hydrogen after the ship's external tank was drained this afternoon, officials said. The other three ECO sensors in the hydrogen tank correctly indicated they were dry as one would expect. The readings lend some credence to the belief that three of the four sensors are operating normally. If they continue to behave properly when the tank is re-loaded with liquid hydrogen early Saturday - and if no other sensor issues develop - NASA managers may be able to approve a flight rule change allowing a launch with three of four operational ECO sensors. At launch pad 39B, meanwhile, approaching bad weather will prevent engineers from moving a gantry back in place around Atlantis. As a result, technicians will be unable to re-install a rain cover over one of the ship's forward thrusters that was blown off during a recent storm. Water in the thruster can freeze as the shuttle climbs to space and interfere with operation of a pressure sensor. That, in turn, can fool the shuttle's computers into believing the thruster failed. But the thruster in question points to one side, not straight up, and engineers are hopeful any rain showers later today will not cause problems.
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STS-115 patch The official crew patch for the STS-115 mission of space shuttle Atlantis to resume orbital construction of the International Space Station. Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide  SFN+Plus Video clip of the day  STS-116: The space shuttle Discovery is rolled to pad 39B Thursday morning for next month's launch to the space station. PLAY VIDEOHOW DO I SIGN UP?STS-116 patch  The official crew patch for the December launch of shuttle Discovery on mission STS-116 to the International Space Station.Choose your store:U.S. Apollo 14 DVD  In January of 1971, Apollo 14 launched on an ambitious mission to land in the Fra Mauro highlands, a region of the moon more challenging than previous explorations. The flight captured in this DVD set.Choose your store:U.S. The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD  This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide STS-115 patch The official crew patch for the STS-115 mission of space shuttle Atlantis to resume orbital construction of the International Space Station.Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Fallen Heroes special patch  This special 12-inch embroidered patch commemorates the U.S. astronauts who made the ultimate sacrifice, honoring the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia.Choose your store:U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide |
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VIDEO:
TODAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT SCRUBBED 