Shuttle Launch Scrubbed 31 Seconds Before Liftoff : NASA Isn’t Certain on the Problem

NASA scrubbed the launch of its shuttle Atlantis today, just 31 seconds from liftoff. On board when the postponement was announced were five astronauts and the state-of-the-art Magellan space probe, designed for a 15-month map-making voyage to Venus.

NASA said it would probably be several hours before they could explain today’s launch problem and announce a new launch date.

NASA had only a 23-minute launch window for the day, and spokesman Hugh Harris said there was not time to explore the problem and attempt a launch later today.

There was less than a minute before ignition when a controller detected something wrong on a monitor and informed launch director Bob Sieck: “Possible problem with an engine 1 recirculation pump. . . . recommend hold at T-31 seconds.”

The robot probe called Magellan is to be propelled from the shuttle six hours after its eventual liftoff, moving to a 15-month journey to Venus, the cloud-shrouded planet that is an abiding mystery to scientists.

It was not clear whether NASA could schedule a second launch attempt for Saturday. Managers were meeting late this afternoon to discuss the next step.

Other Problems Possible

The scrub came at 2:30 p.m. local time, six minutes after the window opened and 17 minutes before it would have closed. Harris said a recirculation pump problem had been indicated but “there might be a sensor problem or some other type of problem.”

Atlantis and the Magellan were pronounced trouble-free until the scrub suddenly occurred, disappointing tens of thousands of spectators and many scientists who have long looked forward to the planetary mission that will begin soon after Atlantis goes into orbit.

Lennard Fisk, NASA’s chief scientist, said the mission of the explorer craft Magellan will mark “a resurgence of America’s planetary program.” The last American probe to deep space was dispatched in 1978.

Launch pad workers completed fueling early this morning. After breakfast, the astronauts donned the bright orange launch suits they would wear into space. They smiled and waved to NASA workers as they headed to their beachfront launch pad.

Once aloft, mission specialists Mary Cleave and Mark Lee were to operate remote controls propelling Magellan from the shuttle’s cargo bay. Atlantis is commanded by David M. Walker. The other crew members are pilot Ronald Grabe and mission specialist Norman Thagard.

Shortest Launch Window

Today’s liftoff opportunity, dictated by Magellan’s path to Venus and lighting conditions at emergency landing sites, was one of the shortest launch windows in shuttle history.

After its release from the shuttle, Magellan’s own rocket was to send it out of Earth orbit. Then over the next 15 months, the craft would fly around the sun 1 1/2 times before settling into an orbit of Venus in August, 1990.

Venus has intrigued humans as long as they’ve looked heavenward and marveled at the universe. The planet, the familiar “star” of the morning or evening, appears just before dawn or just after sunset as a brilliant, unblinking point of light. Its brightness in the nighttime sky is rivaled only by the moon.