Soldered connector installed next week

NASA officials hope to set a Jan. 24th launch date for Atlantis, however, any problems could push back the launch until after a Russian Progress module arrives on Feb. 7.

A new pass-through connector will be installed in Atlantis's external tank next week. Tests next week on the removed connector, however, might not prove where the old connector failed.

"We are taking some schedule risks on the program side," John Shannon, deputy shuttle program manager said after a Thursday meeting. "If there's a new failure mode, we might have to go and take that (connector) back out. We're addressing the most probable cause and there's a lot a data that points to that connector."

The newly fabricated connectors will arrive at KSC this weekend and will be installed next week, Shannon said.

A Jan. 24 launch date is possible, however, Shannon said he would not know for a week to ten days whether the date is realistic.

"I think it's much more likely in the Feb. 2 to 7 timeframe," said Shannon.

The shuttle, however, would likely have to launch after the Feb. 7 arrival of a Russian Progress module at the International Space Station.

"The one big constraint is the Progress launch," said Shannon. NASA rules do not allow a shuttle to be docked at the space station when a Progress module arrives.

Meanwhile, technicians have removed foam on Endeavour's tanks in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The next shuttle mission, scheduled for a Feb. 14 launch, likely will be delayed. However, the similar pass-through connector also will be soldered.

Shannon said that there was no suggestion Thursday of returning Atlantis to the VAB to perform the work.

"All of the work we need to do can be done at the pad," he said.

Shannon said launch criteria might be re-examined after the connector is tested.

"I think we need to get through the cryotesting to determine whether three of four or four of four (working sensors) will be required," he said. "Every time we drained the tank we had a functional system. It always would have worked."