Oly: Space shuttle launch with Olympic torch delayed

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2000
Oly: Space shuttle launch with Olympic torch delayed

SYDNEY, April 25 AAP - The grounding of a space shuttle with the Sydney Olympic torch
on board would not affect the timing of the 2000 Games torch relay, organisers said today.

Strong cross-winds at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida prevented the launch of the
flight carrying the Olympic torch into space this morning.

The boomerang-shaped torch and an Olympic flag are among cargo stowed inside the space
shuttle Atlantis, which was scheduled to leave with a crew of seven on a mission to repair
the international space station before strong winds grounded the flight minutes before
take-off.

But a SOCOG spokesman said the shuttle delay would not interfere with the schedule
for the Olympic torch relay.

"This is not a setback and it's not going to delay the start of the relay," the spokesman
told AAP.

"SOCOG remains confident that the torch will be in space in time to promote the start
of the Sydney 2000 torch relay."

The Olympic flame will leave Olympia in Greece in May 2000 and travel for almost five
months before it lights the cauldron at Homebush stadium on September 15, 2000.

SOCOG said the torch was a specially designed for space travel.

"Because of limited space on board the shuttle, the torch was designed so that it can
be dismantled and taken into space," the spokesman said.

Australian astronaut Andy Thomas said flying the torch into space was an idea he had
about a year ago.

"The official relay of the torch begins next month in Greece and I thought it would
be nice to fly a torch in space as our official precursor of the event," Dr Thomas said.

"The torch will fly over almost all of the countries that will participate in the Olympic Games."

But he said it could be Thursday before the shuttle took flight with even windier conditions
expected for the rescheduled launch tomorrow.

When the flight begins the torch will orbit the earth about 15 times a day and will
travel about 6.5 million kilometres through space.

As well as going into space, the torch is also set to go under water, with part of
the torch relay to take in the Great Barrier Reef, off the Queensland coast.

"It will be the most travelled and transported torch in Olympic history," the SOCOG
spokesman said.

Around 10,000 runners or torch bearers, including past and present Olympians and community
leaders, are involved in the relay, which will take 100 days to get around the country.

The flame itself will be fired by a fuel canister inside the torch and be able to withstand
65kph winds and tropical downpours.

AAP nd/tsm/adh

KEYWORD: OLY TORCH SECOND DAYLEAD

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