Columbia on the launch pad
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July 20, 1999
Web posted at: 12:51 a.m. EDT (0451 GMT)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (CNN) -- NASA halted the launch of the space shuttle Columbia early Tuesday just seconds before launch.

Engineers said high amounts of hydrogen gas were detected in the engine compartment. NASA began the process of "saving" the shuttle, to reduce any risk to the shuttle and the astronauts aboard.

No other launch will be attempted on Tuesday, NASA said. The shuttle was to have blasted off at 12:36 a.m. EDT (0436 GMT) with the first woman to lead a U.S. space mission, Eileen Collins, and the world's most powerful X-ray telescope.

Among those on hand in Florida to view the launch, was First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

No other indications of any problems were identified, NASA spokesmen said. The crew was to exit the shuttle after the engineers declared it safe to do so.

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