CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Atlantis and its astronauts delivered a new lab to the international space station Saturday but had to delay installing it by a day because of a crew member’s medical problem. One of the two spacewalking astronauts who was to help install the $2 billion European science lab, Columbus, was pulled from the job because of a non-life-threatening condition. The installation won’t take place until Monday.
NASA officials would not say why German astronaut Hans Schlegel was being replaced, but Atlantis’ commander, Stephen Frick, requested a private medical conference with flight surgeons shortly after reaching the space station.
The delay in installing Columbus and carrying out the first spacewalk prompted NASA to add a 12th day to the mission. Yet another day could be added to help set up Columbus.
The Associated Press
