America delayed the shuttle launch because of lightning

The US Aerospace Agency (NASA) cannot launch the shuttle Endeavor on July 11, due to dozens of lightning strikes near the launch pad on Friday.

NASA technical experts did not detect any damage after thunder struck the Kennedy Space Center (located on Cananveral, Florida) on Friday afternoon, but they needed at least another day to Check important systems in the ship Endeavor. If the situation is favorable, the ship will take off at 19h13 tonight (local time).

Mike Moses, the flight manager, said at least 11 lightning strikes hit the area about 500 meters in diameter from the launch pad. No lightning strikes hit ships, external fuel tanks and two boosters.

Endeavor shuttle is equipped with sophisticated lightning protection systems - with many sensors and wires to direct lightning away from ships and missiles.

' Lightning protection has worked ,' Moses commented.

Space shuttle Endeavor on launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA.(Photo: AP)

Moses said that the assessment of the ship's condition took place in 24 hours, but NASA could postpone launching again if technical experts did not complete their work on time.

Earlier meteorological authorities forecast the weather today to facilitate the launch.

NASA planned to launch Endeavor in mid-June, but the plan had to be postponed after the leak of hydrogen gas was discovered. After it flew into space, the crew would install the final component of the space lab named Kibo, made by Japan. In Japanese, Kibo means ' hope '. Japan invested $ 1 billion in this lab. Its previous two components were posted last year. In the upcoming flight - scheduled to take place in 16 days - Endeavor astronauts will perform 5 walks outside space.