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Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: Space Shuttle's Launch Pushed Back From May To July 4:31 pm EST March 14, 2006 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA on Tuesday pushed back the launch of space shuttle Discovery from May until at least July because of a faulty fuel tank sensor. A similar problem briefly delayed last summer's launch of Discovery on the first shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster in 2003. NASA said it needs the time to open up the spacecraft's hydrogen fuel tank and replace the sensor, which gave an electrical current reading that was slightly off. The space agency plans to replace the three other sensors in the tank, too, to be safe. The space agency had been working a tight schedule to meet the May launch date and had little room for any technical problems that might crop up. In recent months, NASA has concentrated heavily on modifying the shuttle's big external fuel tank to prevent large pieces of foam insulation from breaking off during liftoff -- the problem that doomed Columbia and its seven astronauts. Last summer, despite 2 1/2 years of safety modifications and other steps to make the shuttle safer, large chunks of foam fell off Discovery at launch, to NASA's alarm. The fuel tank sensor was not the only problem facing the space agency. Discovery's robotic arm was removed on Monday after a small crack was found in it over the weekend. NASA managers had been debating whether to replace or repair the robotic arm, and the launch delay now gives them time to ship the robotic arm back to Canada for repairs. Technicians discovered the crack over the weekend using a visual magnifier and ultrasound equipment. The inspections were ordered after a work platform bumped the robotic arm more than a week ago while the workers were trying to clean up glass in the shuttle's payload bay. The robotic arm has been used to inspect the outside of the shuttle with a camera, construct the international space station and release and retrieve satellites.
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