Alle ore italiane 13.30 di oggi 9 dicembre,la NASA ha cancellato il volo di partenza dello Shuttle STS.122 verso la Stazione Spaziale, perche' tre, dei quattro sensori che controllano i livelli del combustibile nel serbatoio esterno,hanno dato ancora letture errate,come nel precedente tentativo fallito di lancio dello scorso giovedì.
Questa la comunicazione ufficiale:
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Dec. 9 -7:30 a.m. EST Today's launch of space shuttle Atlantis has been officially scrubbed.
Of the four engine cutoff sensors, ECO sensor number three gave false readings. NASA's current Launch Commit Criteria require that all four sensors function properly. The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.
Atlantis' scheduled launch on Thursday was delayed after two of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors in the shuttle's external fuel tank gave false readings. A third sensor failed after the tank was drained of fuel.
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73' Michele