The US space agency has once again delayed the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis, which is to carry a European space laboratory to the International Space Station.
Faulty fuel gauges on the spacecraft's liquid hydrogen tank has already forced several postponements of the launch that was initially scheduled for 6 December.
The target launch date was 10 January. But the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said in a statement that even that date was no longer achievable.
The conclusion came after managers of the shuttle program met yesterday to assess the progress made in efforts to find a solution to the sensor problem.
The agency said the external parts of the connector would be removed and replaced with others to ensure better connectivity.
The Atlantis crew of seven is preparing for an 11-day mission to fly the European Columbus laboratory to the space station. Until now, only the US and Russia have had their own laboratories at the ISS.
The crew includes two European Space Agency astronauts, Hans Schlegel of Germany and Frenchman Leopold Eyharts.
Mr Eyharts was scheduled to stay on the ISS for two and a half months to prepare Columbus for future scientific work.
No new launch date has been set.
