A computer due to be installed on the US space shuttle Endeavour for an August mission was found to be sabotaged, the US space agency NASA said on Thursday. "One of our subcontractors noticed that a network box for the shuttle had appeared to be tampered with," NASA spokeswoman Katherine Trinidad told AFP. "It is intentional damage to hardware."
Endeavour is due to be launched on August 7 from the NASA base at Cape Canaveral in Florida for a mission to the International Space Station.
The workers who discovered the damage to the computer equipment intended for Endeavour notified NASA "several days ago," Trinidad said. "There is an ongoing investigation."
Safety is a major concern in US shuttle missions after damage sustained by the Columbia craft on launching caused it to break up on re-entry in February 2003, killing all seven astronauts on board.
nasa status report
Endeavour is "Go" for Launch
Space Shuttle Endeavour is ready to fly, NASA managers concluded today after wrapping up the two-day flight readiness review at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Launch of Endeavour on the STS-118 mission is officially set for Aug. 7.
"On behalf of all the people that work on Endeavour, both here and really across the country, it's a great, great feeling to have Endeavour back on the pad," said Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach. "We're looking forward to a great launch."
The Shuttle Mission Management Team conducts the review two weeks prior to each space shuttle mission. The group thoroughly evaluates all activities and elements necessary for the safe and successful performance of shuttle mission operations – from the prelaunch phase through post-landing – including the readiness of the vehicle, flight crew and payloads.
The 22nd flight to the International Space Station, STS-118 will be the first flight for Endeavour since 2002, and the first mission for Mission Specialist Barbara Morgan, the teacher-turned-astronaut whose association with NASA began more than 20 years ago.
Source: Agence France-Presse
