Atlantis launch reset for Jan. 10

NASA will give its launch crews some time off for Christmas and New Year's, and target the blast off of space shuttle Atlantis for no earlier than Jan. 10.

NASA scrubbed two launch attempts last week because of problems with engine cutoff sensors in the external tank, and the agency had tentatively targeted Jan. 2 as the next available launch opportunity.

However, all along, shuttle managers have said they wanted to assess the need to get launch crews and engineers across the country some holiday time off.

"Moving the next launch attempt of Atlantis to Jan. 10 will allow as many people as possible to have time with family and friends at the time of year when it means the most," shuttle program manager Wayne Hale said in a prepared statement posted on NASA's web site. "A lot has been asked of them this year and a lot will be asked of them in 2008."

NASA still plans to fuel the liquid hydrogen portion of Atlantis' external tank for testing on Tuesday. The goal is to try to pinpoint what caused sensors in the bottom of the tank to give false readings during launch attempts on Dec. 6 and Dec. 9. Any attempt to launch in early January remains dependent upon NASA solving the sensor dilemma, which has now caused launch delays on three missions since 2005.