No decision; Launch dates in question

NASA delayed a repair decision for Atlantis until after Christmas, raising questions about whether NASA can launch Atlantis on Jan. 10 to the International Space Station.

They also halted the assembly of components for a February shuttle mission. NASA managers said they need to analyze data from a Tuesday tanking test that pinpointed faulty connectors as the cause of intermittent low-fuel sensor readings.

"They need more time to look at the data," NASA spokesman George Diller said. "It told them all kinds of things."

NASA managers hope to authorize a repair plan at a Dec. 27 meeting, said Diller.

Intermittent readings from four engine cut off sensors forced NASA to scrub launches on Dec. 6 and 9. The tanking test revealed the problem was in an electrical connector that runs through the wall of the tank.

During today's meeting, shuttle technicians were given clearance to remove the foam around the connector, which is on the lower part of the tank.

"Some foam is going to have to come off if they're going to get to those connectors," said Diller, who added the foam would be removed by the end of the weekend.

NASA managers also put on hold the planned mating of the solid rocket boosters and external tank for Endeavour's mission on Feb. 14. Delaying that mating in the Vehicle Assembly building would allow more access to the sensor connectors if repairs to connectors in that tank are also necessary.