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Apur-ee.163 net.columbia utzoo!decvax!pur-ee!davy Wed Nov 4 18:55:57 1981 We may have to wait 10 days NASA officials now are saying that it could be a week to 10 days before the shuttle can be relaunched, due to problems with the APUs (Auxilliary Power Units).

According to Hugh Harris, the shuttle spokesman, something contaminated the oil used to lubricate the APUs, causing the filters to clog. This caused oil pressure to rise, and thus, the mission to be scrubbed.

According to Harris, there are two options now under consideration by the officials. [1] The APU's can be drained of their oil, overhauled, and then re-loaded with oil and re-installed. This, coupled with the re-loading of the fuel tanks, could delay the launch up to 10 days.

[2] The APUs can be replaced with "new" ones, thus allowing the shuttle to take off on it's mission, and, the others can be fixed in the meantime.

Nothing was said about which option was/is chosen, I guess we'll have to wait and see. The APUs are used to provide power to the steering mechanisms in the shuttle (flaps, langing gear, etc.) during takeoff and landing.

--Dave

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