01-07-09 Shuttle Endeavour passes fuel-tank test

NASA says problem appears to be fixed,clearing way for July 11 launch.NASA fueled the space shuttle Endeavour early Wednesday in an apparently successful test of repairs aimed at eliminating a potentially dangerous hydrogen gas leak.During the test at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida,NASA loaded Endeavour's massive external tank with super-chilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen while watching a hydrogen gas vent line for excessive leaks.After filling the 15-story tank with 526,000 gallons of propellant,no abnormal leaks were detected,boosting confidence that Endeavour will be ready for a July 11 launch."We think we've got this licked," NASA test director Steve Payne said during the fueling test."This should solve it,and the test we're doing today is to verify it before we go launch next week."