NASA develops plan to avoid space shuttle launch delay

NASA managers decided Tuesday to modify existing space station ammonia coolant hoses by welding shorter sections together to replace a longer hose design that failed a recent ground pressure test. If the work goes well - and the schedule is tight - NASA hopes to launch the shuttle Endeavour on Feb. 7 as planned to deliver a new module to the orbiting lab complex. The primary goal of the three-spacewalk mission is to attach a pressurized module known as Tranquility to the left side of the space station's central Unity module. Tranquility will be used to house critical life support systems and exercise gear that currently are located elsewhere in the laboratory. More

(Source: Space Flight Now - Jan 13)