Computer Failure Stops Shuttle Launch Pad Test
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Astronauts aboard the shuttle Atlantis ran into a series of computer problems that prevented the completion of a practice countdown today in the first launch pad test since the Challenger disaster.
The rocky exercise opened three days of major tests at launch pad 39-B--the same pad used by Challenger Jan. 28.
On board Atlantis today were commander Robert (Hoot) Gibson, co-pilot Charles Bolden, Steven Hawley, George (Pinky) Nelson and Franklin Chang-Diaz, the first crew to climb aboard a shuttle since the Challenger disaster.
The countdown test today had been scheduled to end at 11 a.m. with the computer-simulated ignition of Atlantis’ three main engines, which are not even installed on the spaceship. But NASA spokesman James Ball said engineers decided not to proceed to a simulated ignition because of computer program problems caused by the absence of the engines.
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