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      CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Space shuttle Endeavour's final
launch is off until at least the end of the week because
technicians need to replace a switch box in the engine compartment,
NASA said Sunday.


      The six astronauts - led by commander Mark Kelly - wasted no
time heading back to Houston.


      Kelly's wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, did not join the
astronauts in flying back. The timing of her return to Houston, to
resume rehab after being wounded in a shooting rampage four months
ago, was uncertain.


      As late as Saturday, the astronauts and their families were
still hoping for a possible launch attempt on Monday. But NASA gave
up on that once it became clear extensive repair work would be
needed to fix a faulty heater system aboard Endeavour. The trouble
prevented the shuttle from blasting off Friday; President Barack
Obama and his family were among those missing out.


      "We all had our fingers crossed looking forward to a quick
rescheduling of the launch," said C.J. Karamargin, a Giffords
spokesman.


      Said Endeavour's pilot, Gregory Johnson, in a Sunday morning
tweet: "Things happen fast. We are now all aboard (a plane) for
return to Houston. Be back in a few days. More to follow."


      The flight - the second-to-last in NASA's 30-year shuttle
program - has attracted intense interest because of Giffords, who
was shot through the head nearly four months ago.


      Giffords arrived in Cape Canaveral last Wednesday to be with her
husband and the five other astronauts and their families, and to
see him rocket into orbit. It was not immediately known if she
would return for the second try.


      NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said technicians and engineers will
replace a suspect switch box in Endeavour's engine compartment. Two
days of testing are required, once the new box goes in.


      A new launch date was not set, Beutel said, but given all the
repair work, the next opportunity appeared to be no earlier than
the end of the week. Complicating matters is Friday's planned
launch of a military satellite; NASA will have to give the unmanned
rocket a chance to soar before Endeavour can make a second stab at
blasting off to the International Space Station.


      Endeavour holds a $2 billion particle physics experiment and
spare space station parts.


      NASA had fueled Endeavour and Kelly and his crew were en route
to the launch pad on Friday when the countdown was halted. A heater
for the fuel line leading to one of the shuttle's auxiliary power
unit had failed. Engineers hoped it would be an easy fix, but
weekend testing showed that the most likely culprit was the switch
box.


      While disappointed not to see a liftoff, Obama, his wife and two
daughters visited Kennedy Space Center anyway and got to see
shuttle Atlantis in the hangar, and meet with Giffords and the
entire Endeavour crew.


      Hundreds of thousands had begun to descend on Cape Canaveral
and, like the astronauts, did a U-turn once Friday's launch was
called off.


      Only one other shuttle mission remains, by Atlantis this summer.
      

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Science

Space shuttle Endeavour's final
launch is off until at least the end of the week because
technicians need to replace a switch box in the engine compartment,
NASA said Sunday.

NASA: Endeavour's last launch delayed again

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