Gas leak leaves space shuttle on launchpad

NASA postponed the launch of the space shuttle Discovery just hours before it was to head to the international space station last night because of a hydrogen gas leak that could have been catastrophic at lift-off.

The leak was in a different part of the system that already has caused a one-month delay. Managers put off the launch until Monday, but left open the possibility that the repair work might allow for an attempt on Sunday.

The latest delay means Discovery's two-week flight must be shortened and some space walks cut out of the mission. If Discovery is not able to launch on Monday, then the mission will have to wait until April.

The hydrogen gas began leaking just as the launch team was close to wrapping up the loading of Discovery's external fuel tank for a late night lift-off. The seven astronauts had yet to board the spaceship.

Allard Beutel, a Nasa spokesman, said the small leak was in plumbing on the outside pf Discovery, near the fuel tank and a hydrogen gas-venting line, but had nothing to do with the valves, the area of the previous concerns.