spacetoday.net: Shuttle launch postponed to May 16

Posted: Sat, May 7, 2011, 8:31 AM ET (1231 GMT)

NASA announced Friday that the launch of Endeavour on the next-to-last shuttle mission has been delayed again, this time to no earlier than May 16, as repairs continue. Endeavour was slated to launch on April 29, but was delayed because of a problem with a power controller box in the orbiter's aft section that needed to be replaced. Officials said Friday the launch will now take place no sooner than May 16th at 8:56 am EDT (1256 GMT) to complete tests on the replacement box and related systems. The root cause of the failure in the power controller box, called a Load Control Assembly, has not yet been found. Launch windows for the mission extend through May 26, with the exception of May 21, in order to avoid arriving at the International Space Station the same day that a Soyuz is scheduled to undock. NASA has also formally extended the STS-134 mission from 14 to 16 days.