Even if the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) held the person-in-charge meeting of a technical section on the 24th (Japan Standard Time 25 days) and abnormalities recurred to one of four residual quantity sensors about the U.S. space shuttle "Discovery" by which Mr. Soichi Noguchi (40) rides, when that there is no influence in other sensors and equipment clarified, it was decided that it launched. Although it had become the rule which is not launched unless all four pieces are normal, the interviewed HALE shuttle plan vice-manager said, "He does not change the rule itself", and it emphasized that it was an exceptional measure this time. The sensor in question detects that the liquid hydrogen of the fuel of a shuttle becomes lost, and prevents unusual combustion of a main engine. One piece incorrect-operated on the 13th and a launch was postponed just before. Although the function top was satisfactory when two in a sensor worked, it became the rule which checks that all four abnormalities cannot be found after the Challenger disaster in 1986 which exploded immediately after the launch. Discovery is the schedule of 10:39 a.m. (11 on afternoon of the Japan Standard Time same day o'clock 39 minute) launch on the 26th. According to the Hale vice-manager, the surveillance of a sensor is continued from the time of cryogenic temperature fuel pouring of the predawn on the 26th, an examination signal is sent just before a launch, and a reaction is seen. The wiring which leads to the sensor which incorrect-operated is switched to the normal sensor, and since whether it is the problem of wiring and whether it is the problem of an electric device can distinguish if abnormalities recur, it is supposed that launching after carrying out an additional examination is possible. finally a cause should narrow down -- although a possibility that there was nothing also remained, when, as for NASA, it turned out that this incorrect operation does not influence others, it was judged that safety was maintained. 野口聡一さん(40)が乗る米スペースシャトル「ディスカバリー」について、米航空宇宙局(NASA)は24日(日本時間25日)技術部門の責任者会議を開き、残量センサー4個のうち1個に異常が再発しても、他のセンサーや装置に影響がないことがはっきりすれば、打ち上げることを決めた。