Marc’s Note: Although the root cause has not been found, NASA managers have given the green light to proceed with a launch attempt next Monday at 8:56 a.m. EDT. NASA Sets May 16 For Final Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch, NASA “A short in the heater circuit associated with Endeavour’s hydraulic system resulted in the launch postponement. Technicians determined the most likely failure was inside a switchbox in the shuttle’s aft […]

Endeavour’s Launch Will Occur No Earlier Than May 10, NASA “NASA space shuttle and International Space Station managers met Monday and determined that Tuesday, May 10 is the earliest Endeavour could be launched on the STS-134 mission. That date is success oriented based on preliminary schedules to replace a faulty Load Control Assembly (LCA) box in the orbiter’s aft compartment.”

NASA to Remove and Replace Faulty Switchbox, SpaceRef “NASA managers have narrowed down the problem to the Aft Load Control Assembly #2 (LCA 2) and in particular they believe the problem is with failed Hybrid Load Drivers within the LCA. The LCA is located in Endeavour’s aft avionics bay 5. They will pull out the LCA tomorrow and install a spare on Tuesday. It will take 2 days of testing […]

NASA To Work Issue Over the Weekend and Targets Monday for Launch of Endeavour, SpaceRef “It will be 24 hours from the scrub time before technicians can access Endeavour’s aft cabin Load Control Assembly (LCA). The LCA, a switchbox, is now where engineers think the problem is. By dinner time Saturday managers feel they will be able to start troubleshooting the problem after they’ve gained access to the LCA. Managers […]

Space Shuttle Endeavour on Track for a 3:47 Launch This morning at 6:22 p.m. EDT the loading of the space shuttle’s external tank with 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen began and the topping off of the tank’s propellants will continue until launch time. All systems onboard Endeavour are functioning normally. There is a 70 percent chance of favorable weather for launch. The primary weather concern is for low […]

NASA Pre-Countdown Update only has Weather as a Potential Issue, SpaceRef “At today’s NASA pre-countdown briefing NASA Test Director Jeremy Graeber said that there currently is no technical issues while a potential severe thunder storm coming through Thursday is the only issue at this time that could delay the shuttle launch.”