The Chandra X-Ray Observatory (foreground) was delivered in its canister to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 29 June, to be inserted into the payload bay of Space Shuttle Columbia. The observatory is due to be deployed into orbit shortly after the launch of the Columbia on mission STS63 on 20 July. The mission is still awaiting the official go-ahead, however, as investigations are continuing into the failure in April of an inertial upper stage on a Titan 4B. The failed inertial upper stage was similar to the one that will propel the Chandra into its operating orbit. A flight readiness review will decide on 8 July.
Source: Flight International
