sjb (01/08/83)
NASA has decided to conduct another test firing of the Challenger's main engines to see whether or not fixes to several minor leaks has solved the hydrogen leak problem, first discovered after the 18 December test. The new test firing will be held in late January, and STS-6 will lift off ''around the end of February.'' The loading of her cargo, a 5000 pound communications satellite, originally scheduled for this weekend, was also delayed until after the new test.
alb (03/11/83)
The launch of STS-6 was delayed yet again yesterday as officials expressed concern over the possible contamination of the Challenger's cargo: a tracking data relay satellite. Wind of 60 to 70 mph hit KSC last month and NASA fears some springs in the satellite may have been damaged. The satellite will be removed, by Saturday, and fixed on the pad. The new launch date will be sometime the first week of April.