Columbia shuttle launch delayed

The launch of space shuttle Columbia will be delayed until engineers determine the cause of minuscule cracks found on two other shuttles, the US space agency said.

The launch was previously planned for July 19; no new date was announced.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said that the delay should only be a few weeks.

Columbia is scheduled to carry Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut, and six Americans on a 16-day scientific research mission.

The cracks were found on shuttles Atlantis and Discovery inside the main propulsion system’s propellant lines, Nasa said.