sjb (01/04/83)
The date of the Challenger's first launch is still hanging in the air, though officials are still aiming for 27 January. It all depends on when technicians find and correct a problem that allowed hydrogen to leak into the Challenger's main engine compartments on a test firing on 18 December. NASA says they expect that process to take about a week. Meanwhile, workers prepared a 5000 pound communications satellite to be carried into orbit by the Challenger. After being ejected, it will be carried into geosynchronous orbit to become a part of NASA's new communications system (for the shuttle and other satellites).