Nasa says work on the Atlantis space shuttle's problematic fuel sensor system Astronauts aim for tight deadline ...
Nato urged to end Afghan transfer ...
China plans space station in 2020 ...
Microsoft to Comply With EU Antitrust Measures ... will push back the launch of the Columbus lab to perhaps February.
The European module was supposed to fly to the space station on the orbiter in December before erratic sensors led to the lift-off being scrubbed.
There is now an option for a 24 January launch, but February looks more likely.
The space agency says engineers need more time to fix suspected faulty electrical connections in the system.
The sensors, which sit at the base of the shuttle's giant external tank, are part of a backup emergency system to cut off the orbiter's three main engines if they run out of hydrogen propellant before the ship reaches orbit.
Running the engines without fuel could trigger a catastrophic explosion.
Columbus is Europe's major contribution to the science endeavours on the International Space Station (ISS).
It will be delivered and installed by a joint US-European crew.
(BBC)
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