Atlantis Countdown Hits Another Snag

The countdown to the next launch of the shuttle Atlantis hit another snag when its giant external fuel tank accidentally hit a work platform while being lifted. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration says the tank sustained “no serious damage,” but a closer examination is underway and an investigative team has been formed to review handling procedures. Atlantis had been set for a July 31 liftoff, but now NASA is aiming for Sept. 12. That means U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid will have yet another delay as she waits for Atlantis to retrieve her from the Russian space station Mir, where she’s been living with two cosmonauts since March. Previous stumbling blocks on Atlantis’ road to space included the threat of Hurricane Bertha, the need to replace possibly defective boosters and improper assembly of one of the new boosters.