spacetoday.net: Crack found in Endeavour's engines

Posted: Thu, Jul 11, 2002, 8:50 AM ET (1250 GMT)
Shuttle main engine inspection (NASA/KSC)

Technicians have discovered at least one crack in the engines of the space shuttle Endeavour, making it the fourth shuttle with such cracks. NASA officials confirmed Wednesday that one crack had been discovered in a hydrogen fuel line flow liner in Endeavour's engines, similar to cracks previously found in the flow liners of the other three shuttles. Inspections of Endeavour are ongoing, raising the possibility that other cracks may be found. How the cracks formed, and what effect they pose on shuttle safety, still remains to be determined. The inspections have delayed the launch of one shuttle, Columbia, on a non-ISS science mission, and have the potential to delay two other shuttle missions planned for later this year. NASA may announce its plans for dealing with the problem as soon as Friday, Florida Today reports.