spacetoday.net: Booster problem could delay shuttle launch

Posted: Sat, Aug 4, 2001, 9:03 AM ET (1303 GMT)
STS-105 patch

A possible problem with a solid rocket booster could delay Thursday's launch of the shuttle Discovery by several days, NASA officials said late Friday. Engineers are concerned that there may be cracks inside a hydraulic steering unit in of the two boosters after cracks were found in a similar system in another booster used in a recent launch. Those cracks are believed to have been caused by stress and corrosion associated with repeated splashdowns in the Atlantic Ocean. Shuttle managers plan to meet Saturday to decide whether the hydraulic unit, used to steer the booster's nozzle, needs to be replaced. If they do decide to replace the unit, it would delay the launch, currently scheduled for August 9, by three to four days. Discovery is scheduled to spend 12 days in space on the STS-105 mission with the primary purpose of exchaning crews on the International Space Station.