NASA Discovers Space Shuttle Pressure Leak

National Aeronautics and Space Administration engineers worked Thursday to repair a cabin pressure leak discovered in space shuttle Endeavour.

The leak was discovered at the Kennedy Space Center late Wednesday during preparations for Tuesday’s 7:02 p.m. EDT launch of STS-118.

NASA officials said the problem was traced to one of two positive pressure-relief valves that ensure the shuttle’s crew cabin doesn’t become over-pressurized. Workers planned to remove and replace the suspect mechanism using a valve from currently idle space shuttle Atlantis.

The 22nd flight to the International Space Station, STS-118 will be the first flight for Endeavour since 2002.