Gloomy faces around Kennedy Space Centre today, as news filtered through from launchpad 39A that all is not well with the shuttle Atlantis. Nasa has scrubbed the planned launch and will delay for at least 24 hours while the troubleshooters move in.
We knew something was wrong when European Space Agency officials took lengthy calls during a breakfast meeting with the press. At first, the concerns were minor - a pumping station that fills liquid hydrogen tanks aboard the shuttle was leaking and the tanks couldn't be filled up completely. These tanks only provide hydrogen for fuel cells, so the worry was whether they could generate enough electricity if the mission was extended by 2 days, as both Nasa and Esa wish.
But later it became clear a more tricky problem had been encountered. Gauges on the main hydrogen fuel tank were reading full when it was empty. There are four gauges in all, and three must be working for the shuttle to launch. Right now though, two are giving bad readings.
The gauges are critical for a safe flight - if the engine continues to run when all the fuel's burned up, it could catch fire and destroy they shuttle midflight. Alan Thirkettle, the European Space Agency's programme manager for the International Space Station, told me it's the kind of problem that crops up during countdown lately.
The programme managers are meeting at 7pm UK time to discuss the latest findings from test engineers. We should know soon after they emerge. The weather remains perfect and the forecast for tomorrow is good too.
Spending time at the centre you get to see some striking things. The entire centre was built on 140,000 acres of what is mostly swampland. There are ditches with turtles in and alligators lie among the grass, or half-submerged in shallow canals. Overhead, there are ospreys and other birds of prey. Around 16 bald eagles have made nests here. Apparently the most hazardous animals are the over-sized wild pigs though. Hazardous in that they wander onto the roads at night and cause a lot of damage to vehicles when they're struck, the guide said.
Last night we had a glimpse of the training jets in action. The centre has a couple of jets converted to fly like the shuttle, which being unpowered in descent has to commit to landing first time. The pilot was hurtling towards the runway in a steep 30 degree dive before pulling up and circling round for another dummy run. It's exciting stuff to watch. Inside it must be terrifying - most domestic airlines come in at less than a seven degree angle.
