Managers Prefer an On-Site Shuttle Repair

NASA managers are “leaning toward” an on-the-launch-pad fix for a fuel leak aboard the shuttle Discovery that otherwise could force a major delay for the first post-Challenger flight, sources said Saturday.

Three options are under study to fix the leak in a steering rocket system, and sources said space agency managers hope to make a decision on how to proceed by Tuesday. If an on-the-pad fix can be implemented, Discovery could be ready for launch as early as the third week of September.

But no final decisions have been made and Discovery remains in danger of a rollback to the hangar for repairs, which could delay blastoff one to two months.