Donald Savage
Headquarters, Washington, DC         August 7, 1997
(Phone:  202/358-1547)

George Diller 
Kennedy Space Center, FL
(Phone:  407/867-2468)

Lt.Col. John Martin
45th Space Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, FL
(Phone:  407/494-5933)

RELEASE:  97-173

COUNTDOWN TEST REVEALS FUEL LEAKS
ON CASSINI MISSION CENTAUR UPPER STAGE

     During the Tuesday, August 5, terminal 
countdown demonstration test, Air Force and 
Lockheed Martin engineers observed leakage in the 
Centaur stage of the Titan IV-B rocket for the 
Cassini mission to Saturn.  This test, in which the 
Centaur is fully fueled, is normally conducted to 
identify problems which could affect the 
performance of the Titan IV.  Leakage of this 
nature can occur on occasion when the Centaur is 
first tanked with cryogenic propellants.  During 
this test, engineers observed some liquid hydrogen 
and liquid oxygen leakage in the thrust section.

     Engineering assessments are currently being 
performed to determine the cause of the leakage and 
what corrective action is necessary to ready the 
vehicle for the Cassini launch.  Until this has 
been done, what impact this might have on the 
planned October 6 launch date, if any, cannot be 
definitely determined.  A repeat test will be 
performed to assure that there are no additional 
leaks or other issues. 

-end-