NASA delays launch to Wednesday

By Irene Klotz

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA is planning to delay the launch of its new moon probe for two days so it can try to launch space shuttle Endeavour Wednesday on a construction mission to the International Space Station, officials said on Sunday.

The U.S. space agency postponed Endeavour's launch on Saturday due to a potentially dangerous hydrogen leak. Repairs were expected to take four days.

NASA managers decided on Sunday to try to make one attempt to launch Endeavour this week, on Wednesday at 5:40 a.m. EDT. If weather or technical problems interfere, the shuttle mission likely would be delayed until next month to allow the moon probe flight.

Wednesday had been reserved for launch of an unmanned Atlas rocket carrying the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft. The probe is the debut mission in a new U.S. space exploration initiative aimed at returning astronauts to the surface of the moon by 2020.

The probe's launch would be delayed until Friday.

NASA has to choose between the missions because Cape Canaveral Air Force Station can support only one type of rocket at a time. The range, which provides tracking, safety and other support services, needs two days to configure equipment for use by different types of rockets.

"It really is better for both missions to try to go during this launch period," said LeRoy Cain, shuttle deputy program manager.

NASA said delaying LRO beyond this week would affect its science objectives, as well as delay future satellites launching on Atlas rockets at Cape Canaveral.