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Space shuttle Atlantis is leaking helium gas, and NASA engineers are debating what to do about the problem and whether it will delay this week’s liftoff. Atlantis is scheduled to lift off Friday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on the first shuttle-docking mission with Russia’s space station Mir. Work at the shuttle launch pad was running late Wednesday morning because of the leak. NASA test director Bill Dowdell said the leak in the right orbital-maneuvering system of Atlantis’ tail evidently began four days ago but was not discovered until Tuesday night. The helium is needed to pressurize the fuel used by thrusters in orbit.
