Why are space shuttle launches delayed so frequently?
From a distance, a space shuttle looks pretty sturdy. It’s enormous and solid, and it can withstand extreme temperatures when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere. But in some ways, a space shuttle is delicate. NASA describes it as the “most complex machine ever built.” A fully loaded shuttle weighs around 1,300,000 pounds (589,670 kilograms) and includes lots of complex circuitry and moving parts, all of which can break. In the past, tiny failures have led to disasters like the destruction of Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003. Most of the time, delays in a space shuttle’s launch stem from its complexity and relative fragility. NASA will delay, or scrub, a launch after detecting an existing or potential problem. Delaying the launch can allow threats to dissipate or give officials time to diagnose and repair problems. Weather is a common cause for delay. Before launch, NASA uses weather balloons, Doppler radars, weather radars a
