Discovery launch planned for today
NASA is unsure what caused the hydrogen gas leak that prevented space shuttle Discovery from flying, but nonetheless will attempt another launch today.
Shuttle managers are hopeful that repairs at the launch pad have solved the problem.
There’s “a potential risk” that the leak will recur, said Mike Moses, chairman of the mission management team. That would mean yet another delay for the International Space Station construction mission, which already is running more than a month late.
“We did everything we could, which is to replace all the hardware,” Moses told reporters Saturday. “Yeah, we’d like to have that root cause, because now you’d feel comfortable. But I’m still going to sleep just as good tonight knowing that our chances tomorrow are really good that we did lick this problem.”
NASA has until Tuesday to launch Discovery before having to wait for a Russian Soyuz rocket that is set to blast off to the space station March 26.
NEW YORK
Chaos spurs arrests, cancels audition
Three people were arrested and six others hurt Saturday after bedlam broke out while they waited to audition for “America’s Next Top Model,” police said.
Police didn’t know what prompted the chaos involving hundreds of people outside the Park Central New York hotel in Manhattan. The panic left the street outside the hotel littered with shoes and clothing, according to news reports.
“It was pretty scary,” Jessica Paravati told WNYW-TV. She said she was caught up in a stampede after waiting in line overnight, hoping for a shot at stardom on the reality show.
Two women and a man were arrested on disorderly conduct charges, police said. Authorities also shut down the audition, saying it wasn’t properly organized.
Four injured people declined treatment, while two others were taken to a hospital, the fire department said. Their conditions weren’t available.
MOUNT GILEAD, Ohio
Paper chase stalls city legal process
An Ohio city court will accept new case filings only from people who bring their own paper.
Judge Lee McClelland of Morrow County Municipal Court in north-central Ohio said the court has just enough paper to handle hearing notices and other documents for pending cases.
McClelland said the court will stop accepting case filings Monday because it cannot afford to reorder more paper. He said the county still hasn’t paid the bill for basic supplies the court ordered in November.