NASA officials decided to remove propellants from space shuttle Atlantis before returning the spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building. The decision stems from a Monday severe thunderstorm that pummeled the shuttle with golf ball-sized hail, producing as many as 2,000 "divots" in the shuttle's external fuel tank's foam insulation and damaging about 26 heat shield tiles on the shuttle's left wing.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials at the Kennedy Space Center said the necessity of removing the fuel will delay the rollback, now expected to occur Sunday or Monday.
NASA said further evaluation of the tank must be done in the Vehicle Assembly Building, where the entire shuttle can be more easily accessed.
A new target launch date will be set after the damage is assessed and the time needed for repairs can be determined but NASA said teams will focus on preparing Atlantis for a late April launch.
