NASA determined that an outdated nozzle inlet...

NASA determined that an outdated nozzle inlet ring inadvertently used in the final test of the redesigned space shuttle booster rocket was not installed in the boosters attached to the shuttle Discovery. Engineers rechecked inventory paper work and re-examined X-rays before concluding that the twin rockets scheduled to lift Discovery into space Sept. 29 contain the correct nozzle inlet rings, NASA spokesman Ed Medal said. Even if the old-design rings had been in the boosters, he said, it is unlikely they would have caused a delay in the planned launch because the old rings had performed well in previous shuttle flights and tests. Engineers discovered earlier this week during regular post-test examination that the nozzle inlet ring installed in the Aug. 18 test booster contained a ring of the old, pre-Challenger design.