More wiring problems found on shuttle

November 19, 1999
Web posted at: 2:59 p.m. EST (1959 GMT)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- More wiring problems have been found on space shuttle Discovery, but NASA says it is too soon to determine whether repairs will delay next month's planned launch to the Hubble Space Telescope.

Discovery is due to blast off December 6 with crucial replacement parts for Hubble.

On Thursday, technicians found minor flaws in the insulation of wiring needed to relay electrical power from the shuttle to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters, said NASA spokesman Joel Wells.

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The discovery was made after cracks were found in similar wiring aboard Endeavour.

The solution could be as fast and easy as applying tape for extra insulation, or could be much more complicated, Wells said. All work can be done at the launch pad, he said.

Discovery was to have flown to Hubble in October, but was grounded along with the rest of the shuttle fleet so NASA could locate and repair defective wiring. That work was ordered after a short circuit marred Columbia's launch in July.

Last week, NASA had to replace a crushed bundle of wires and a contaminated engine on Discovery.

Hubble cannot make any astronomical observations until Discovery and its seven-man crew arrive with new gyroscopes, needed to point and steady the telescope.

Copyright 1999   The Associated Press. All rights reserved.