NASA Begins Filling Space Shuttle With Fuel for Leak Testing

NASA today began filling the space shuttle Endeavour's fuel tank to perform leak tests to make sure the shuttle is finally ready to launch on July 11th.

NASA crew began filling a half-million gallons of the liquid hydrogen and oxygen into the main external fuel tank this morning in preparations for the tests.

During the shuttle launch attempts last month, gas leaked from a plate on the fuel tank that attaches to the vent line. Engineers believed the leak was caused by a slightly misaligned plate. They installed a new seal and washers and believe this may correct the problem.

If all of the tests go according to plan, NASA will send the shuttle into space on July 11th.