[Atmob-announce] shuttle Atlantis launch delayed until January

[Bern Kosicki]

At 01:58 PM 12/9/2007, Michael Aramini wrote:
>As announced in a NASA news conference this morning (Sunday), the
>launch of space shuttle Atlantis has been delayed until no earlier than
>Jan. 2, 2008 due to problems with the engine cutoff sensor system.
>
>For more information, see
>    http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
>
>-Michael

I notice that the criteria for stopping a launch has changed between 
Thursday and today.

Thursday from the NASA web site:

"Dec. 6, 10 a.m. EST: During tanking, two of four LH2 Engine Cutoff (ECO) 
sensors failed to respond appropriately, which is a Launch Commit 
Violation. The requirement to proceed calls for 3 of 4. The launch was 
scrubbed at 9:56 a.m. EST on the recommendation of Launch Director Doug Lyons."

Today from the NASA site:

"Early Sunday, one of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors inside the 
liquid hydrogen section of Atlantis' external fuel tank gave a false 
reading while the tank was being filled. NASA's current Launch Commit 
Criteria require that all four sensors function properly. "

Anyone know why NASA suddenly changed its criteria?

Bernie Kosicki