Cooling System Flaw Causes Delay of Booster Test
A crucial planned test firing of the first redesigned space shuttle booster rocket was halted seconds before ignition today because of an apparent technical problem with a cooling system.
The countdown had come within 15 seconds of rocket ignition when a test director ordered, “Abort the motor.”
Countdown commentator Roger Williams then reported: “We have lost our water deluge system.”
The firing had been set for 1:05 p.m. MDT. Officials then said they would attempt to fire the rocket 90 minutes later.
The crucial test was designed to see whether engineers have fixed the flaws that destroyed Challenger and killed seven astronauts last year. Hinging on the outcome of the test were plans of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to resume shuttle flights next year.
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