spacetoday.net: Glitch delays Endeavour launch

Posted: Fri, Apr 29, 2011, 4:32 PM ET (2032 GMT)

NASA has postponed the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour, planned for Friday afternoon, at least three days because of a problem with one of its auxiliary power units (APUs). Shuttle managers said that one of the heaters in Endeavour's APU number 1, used to keep hydrazine from freezing while the shuttle is in orbit, failed, requiring NASA to scribe the launch shortly after 12 pm EDT (1600 GMT). NASA shuttle managers said that they're looking into the root cause of the failure, which could be associated with various wires or components. Shuttle managers plan to release more details later today about their plans. Endeavour's six-man crew, when it does launch, will deliver the AMS-02 physics experiment to the ISS and perform four spacewalks outside the station. President Obama, who planned to visit KSC to observe the launch, came despite the scrub, getting a look at the shuttle Atlantis being prepared for its final mission.