Fuelling test for last space shuttle

Nasa fuelled space shuttle Atlantis but it was only a test leading up to the last flight of the 30-year programme.

Lift-off is not until July 8. Shuttle managers want to make sure that repairs to the external fuel tank are good and that no cracks pop up in any of the support brackets.

Preliminary checks indicated no cracking. But a valve for one of the three main engines recorded lower-than-normal temperatures during the tanking operation, indicating a possible hydrogen fuel leak. The engine was isolated, and the test continued.

Nasa officials said even if the valve needs replaced, they believe they can make a July 8 launch.

The original cracking problem, meanwhile, kept shuttle Discovery grounded late last year. The same kind of patches – applied to the aluminium struts in the centre portion of the tank – were used for Atlantis.

The struts, or brackets, are located in an area where there is no fuel, only instruments. The brackets were made from an aluminium alloy that was more brittle and that, combined with assembly issues, led to the cracking on Discovery’s tank. Technicians will X-ray the brackets on Atlantis’ tank beginning this weekend.

The fuelling operation was delayed several hours by thunderstorms that pounded Cape Canaveral on Tuesday. Three lightning strikes were reported near the pad. Preliminary checks show nothing was damaged, although a power circuit went off-line.

A countdown rehearsal for the final flight will be conducted this week with the four Atlantis astronauts.

Nasa is still analysing a pair of issues from Endeavour’s recently completed flight.

A glob of grease apparently caught fire around the left main landing gear when Endeavour landed on June 1, but left no traces.

The brief flash fire was caught on video, Nasa spokesman Allard Beutel said. Neither the crew nor shuttle was in any danger.