NASA delays space shuttle launch a day for repairs

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla, Aug 4 (Reuters) NASA has delayed the launch of space shuttle Endeavour by one day to allow time for workers to finish replacing a leaky valve in the spaceship's crew cabin, officials at the US space agency said.

Liftoff of the second shuttle mission of the year had been targeted for Tuesday, but was rescheduled for Wednesday at 6:36 p.m. 0406 hrs IST.

''We understand the decision to delay until Wednesday and we agree with it completely,'' said Endeavour commander Scott Kelly, who arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in central Florida along with his six crewmates yesterday.

Teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan said, ''It's great to be here.'' Morgan trained 22 years ago as the backup to Teacher-in-Space Christa McAuliffe. Seven astronauts, including McAuliffe, were killed aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1986 due to a booster rocket failure during launch.

The shuttle will carry a new beam to install in the main structural truss of the International Space Station, a new gyroscope for the station's steering system and more than 5,000 pounds (2,250 kg) of cargo.

The launch delay will give technicians more time to test a replacement valve that was installed in Endeavour's crew cabin to stem an air leak.

The shuttle is scheduled to spend a week to 10 days at the space station to help prepare the complex for the arrival of new laboratories built by Europe and Japan late this year and in 2008.

The shuttle's three-day launch countdown, which had been set to begin today, will now begin tomorrow.

In addition to Kelly and Morgan, the crew includes pilot Charles Hobaugh, flight engineer Rick Mastracchio, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Dave Williams and mission specialists Tracy Caldwell and Alvin Drew.

''In the words of the great philosopher-poet Larry the Cable Guy, 'It's time to get her done.' Let's go have a fine countdown and a fine mission and we'll see you in a few weeks,'' Drew said.

REUTERS PDS BST0445