Tiny Leak Under Control; Space Shuttle Ready for Launch Today

A tiny leak in an experimental drug manufacturing unit was brought under control Thursday as workers readied the space shuttle Discovery for today’s scheduled launch.

For a time the leak threatened to cancel one of the Discovery’s major objectives, the continuing development by McDonnell Douglas Corp. of a system for separating hormones in a low-gravity environment for use in making pharmaceuticals. Also at risk for a few hours was a second spaceflight by Charles D. Walker, 36, a McDonnell Douglas engineer who will run the experiment’s equipment during the flight.

But during a preflight press conference Thursday, Jesse Moore, head of the shuttle program, said: “The leak has been brought under control. We’re ready to fly.”

The leak of a weak brine solution amounted to only a few drops per hour, Moore said. If it should recur during the flight, it could jeopardize the experiment but would pose no serious problems for the seven-member crew, Moore said.

First Flight Since November

The flight was to be the first in the civilian space program since last November. Others have been delayed or canceled because of various problems.

The Discovery, which is to launch two communications satellites during its five-day flight, is commanded by Air Force Col. Karol J. Bobko, 47. The other members of the crew are Sen. Jake Garn (R-Utah), 52, chairman of the Senate subcommittee that oversees the budget of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Navy Cmdr. Donald E. Williams, 42, the pilot; M. Rhea Seddon, 37, a medical doctor and the only woman aboard; Navy Capt. S. David Griggs, 45, and Jeffrey A. Hoffman, 40. Griggs and Hoffman are mission specialists.

Barring possible problems from an offshore storm system, the Discovery was scheduled to lift off at 5:04 a.m. PST and land here next Wednesday morning.