Space Shuttle launch slated for May now

US space agency NASA has revealed that the space shuttle being prepared for launch was damaged quite a bit during the hailstorm last month.

They have now delayed the launch until no earlier than mid-May. This was confirmed by the shuttle program manager Wayne Hale.

The delay to the latest mission means that the space agency would not be able to launch five flights in 2007 as they had originally planned.

These missions are critical for the NASA to complete the construction of the International Space Station. Now, the fifth mission is most likely going to take place early next year.

Hale said in his statement: “It is possible that we could still squeak into the May part of the launch window.”