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| Nasa delays space shuttle launch | Nasa delays space shuttle launch |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Nasa officals have delayed the launch of space shuttle Atlantis by at least 24 hours after engineers reported faults on two fuel gauges. | Nasa officals have delayed the launch of space shuttle Atlantis by at least 24 hours after engineers reported faults on two fuel gauges. |
| Two of the four sensors in the craft's external fuel tank indicated that the tank was dry, even though there was fuel inside, a spokesman said. | Two of the four sensors in the craft's external fuel tank indicated that the tank was dry, even though there was fuel inside, a spokesman said. |
| The US space agency will now attempt to launch the shuttle on Friday. | The US space agency will now attempt to launch the shuttle on Friday. |
| The 11-day mission will deliver Europe's first permanent space lab to the International Space Station (ISS). | The 11-day mission will deliver Europe's first permanent space lab to the International Space Station (ISS). |
| The problem was discovered shortly after engineers had begun filling the external tank with fuel. | |
| The spokesman added that at least three of the sensor had to be working in order for the launch team to go ahead with the launch. | |
| End in sight | End in sight |
| The 21-tonne, 880m euro ($1.3bn) Columbus module is designed to carry out experiments that would be impossible in Earth's gravity. | The 21-tonne, 880m euro ($1.3bn) Columbus module is designed to carry out experiments that would be impossible in Earth's gravity. |
| The eventual arrival of the Columbus space lab at the ISS will mark the end of a 12-year effort for Europe to establish its first permanent base in space. | The eventual arrival of the Columbus space lab at the ISS will mark the end of a 12-year effort for Europe to establish its first permanent base in space. |
| The project has already been hit by several hold-ups in space station construction, which resulted in its costs rising. | The project has already been hit by several hold-ups in space station construction, which resulted in its costs rising. |
| The first occurred between 1996 and 2000, as a result of Russian delays launching the ISS's main control and habitation module Zvezda. | The first occurred between 1996 and 2000, as a result of Russian delays launching the ISS's main control and habitation module Zvezda. |
| Further delay resulted from the destruction of space shuttle Columbia in 2003, which claimed the lives of seven astronauts. | Further delay resulted from the destruction of space shuttle Columbia in 2003, which claimed the lives of seven astronauts. |
| In graphics: Space Station | In graphics: Space Station |
| The US space agency spent three and a half years and more than $1bn fixing the shuttle for a return to flight in 2005. | The US space agency spent three and a half years and more than $1bn fixing the shuttle for a return to flight in 2005. |
| However, the shuttle fleet was swiftly grounded again after the same problem responsible for dooming Columbia - foam shedding from the external fuel tank - re-emerged on the 2005 mission. | However, the shuttle fleet was swiftly grounded again after the same problem responsible for dooming Columbia - foam shedding from the external fuel tank - re-emerged on the 2005 mission. |
| Columbus will be the second laboratory to be added to the space station. It will join Nasa's Destiny module, which became operational in 2001. | Columbus will be the second laboratory to be added to the space station. It will join Nasa's Destiny module, which became operational in 2001. |
| The third and final lab, Japan's Kibo, will be taken up to the ISS next year. However, because of its size, it will require three shuttle missions to deliver the module. | The third and final lab, Japan's Kibo, will be taken up to the ISS next year. However, because of its size, it will require three shuttle missions to deliver the module. |
| The 11-day mission will involve at least three space-walks, deliver a new crew member to the ISS, and bring back an astronaut who has completed a two-month stay on the space station. | The 11-day mission will involve at least three space-walks, deliver a new crew member to the ISS, and bring back an astronaut who has completed a two-month stay on the space station. |