Aug 18 1994
From The Space Library
NASA announced that the flight of Space Shuttle Discovery, scheduled for September 1994, would include two firsts: atmospheric research using a laser, the LIDAR In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE), and robotic processing of semiconductor materials. The mission would also feature the deployment and retrieval of a free-flying astronomical observer and the first untethered spacewalk by astronauts in more than 10 years. On August 31, NASA officials indicated there might be a delay in the contemplated September 9 launch because of problems with the craft's propulsion system. (NASA Release 94-135; AP, Aug 31/94; Reuters, Aug 31/94)
The flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour was aborted 1.9 seconds before liftoff as a result of automatic engine shutdown caused by an overheated fuel pump. In consequence, NASA officials stated that they were moving the launch of Endeavour to the first week of October because of the time it would take to refurbish the craft. (UP, Aug 18/94; AP, Aug 18/94; Reuters, Aug 18/94; NY Times, Aug 19/94; W Post, Aug 19/94; W Times, Aug 19/94; USA Today, Aug 19/94; AP, Aug 19/94; Fla Today, Aug 19/94; 0 Sen Star, Aug 19/94; NY Times, Aug 21/94; Av Wk, Aug 22/94)
Japan's new H-II rocket was aborted six seconds before liftoff when its main liquid fuel engine was ignited but the solid fuel booster rockets failed to ignite. Japan's National Space Development Agency said the problem appeared to be in a ground-control computer known as the countdown sequencer rather than in the rocket. On August 28, the H-II rocket was launched again. However, Japan's space agency said on August 31 that it was abandoning efforts to put into orbit an experimental satellite launched by the H-II rocket. (NY Times, Aug 19/94; 0 Sen Star, Aug 19/94; Reuters, Aug 28/94; NY Times, Aug 29/94; CSM, Sep 1/94)
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