European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 24, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday july 24, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 3 test firing of shuttle postponed Cape canaveral Fla. A a launching pad test firing of the space shuttle discovery s main engines this week will be delayed at least two Days Nasa officials said saturday. The decision to delay until at least july 30 was made after shuttle managers reviewed documents that showed not All elements were ready including a Hazar Dous Gas detection system that is not thoroughly checked out. The 20-second firing of the three engines is considered critical to certify Dis covery for the first shuttle launching since the challenger explosion on Jan. 28, 1986. It will test modifications made in the engine and provide valuable countdown experience for the launching team. Officials said a delay in the test firing would have Only minimal Impact on the planned Early september launching. However the status of the launching is in doubt while engineers Puzzle Over How to fix a Small leak in a steering engine system that is separate from the main engines. They Hope to make the repair on the pad and avoid rolling the shuttle Back to a hangar a move that could delay the flight by As much As two months. Experts have several innovative suggestions for fixing the leak of nitrogen tetroxide Gas which normally combines with fuel to Power the steering engines. The leak is six feet from the nearest entry panel and is blocked from Normal Access by a Maze of tubes wiring and tanks. Taking a Cue from heart doctors Engi neers Are considering running a thin tube with an expandable balloon on the end through a 20-foot line with six Sharp bends in it. It would be something like a medical procedure known As an angioplasty but instead of opening a clogged artery it would close off the leaking line. The materials and processing lab at the Marshall space flight Center in Huntsville ala., is devising a lockup of the 20-foot line to test this approach. Another idea being explored is to enter discovery s cargo Bay and Cut holes through both the rear of the Bay and the engine compartment to reach the leak then plug it by some method including encapsulating it with a Clamshell like device filled with a sealant. Engineers were to begin testing All suggested approaches this weekend. An eary feeling Marisa Dalo smiles As she listens through simulated ears at City thursday. The exhibit allows children to find out How an the children s zoo Section of the Bronx zoo in new York animal would hear if it had these ears. Mandela s wife others pay visit to imprisoned s. African activist Cape town South Africa a imprisoned Black Leader Nelson Mande la accepted a government offer of a sat urday visit with his wife and family. Mandela rejected a similar offer ear Lier last week to protest a government ban on celebrations of his birthday. Winnie Mandela who flew to Cape town for the visit at polls Moor prison said the prison service had the Best intentions in offering her husband a special meeting with nine of his relatives on his 70th birthday monday. But she said the african National Congress Leader had decided to protest the government s ban on celebrations of his birthday and the detention of pro Mandela activists by rejecting the privilege offered him. Mandela has been imprisoned since 1962. During saturday s 80-minute visit Mandela and his wife were joined by their daughter two grandchildren and an american businessman who represents the Mandela family s interests. The attorney Robert j. Brown of High Point n.c., said Mandela agreed to Grant Power of attorney to him to protect the use of the Mandela family name and its interests worldwide. Brown who announced a similar agreement with mrs. Mandela earlier last week said the agreement requires that he consult with Anc president Oliver Tambo in Lusaka Zambia on All matters relating to the family. Mandela is serving a life sentence for sabotage and plotting the overthrow of the South african government As a Leader of the Anc which is the main guerrilla group fighting the White led government. Before the family visit Mandela met with Yusuf and Amina Kachalia activists who in the 1950s waged with him a Campaign against South Africa s policy of apartheid which establishes a racially segregated society in which the 26 Mil lion Blacks have no vote in National affairs. The Ca Chalias last saw Mandela in 1962, and had been applying for 15 years for permission to meet him again. Forest fires Char thousands of acres across West by the associated press hundreds of fighters were losing ground against the sweep of a nearly 20,000-acre wildfire in Bridger Teton National Forest wilderness As it edged its Way to within a mile of Yellowstone National Park. But in California firefighters made headway Friday against two fires that have Cost More than $6 million and charred 12,500 acres in rugged mountains 150 Miles East of san Francisco. Air and ground reinforcements were called in overnight in Colorado As Crews continued to fight a Brush fire that had nearly tripled in size Friday to 1,100 acres. The twin arson suspected fires in Ca Laveras county East of san Francisco have razed six Homes nine outbuildings seven vehicles and a tractor since they began tuesday. Firefighters had the fires 75 percent encircled by their control lines Friday night and expected full containment by saturday evening said Marilyn Rich Ards a spokeswoman for the California department of forestry in san Andreas. But the More than 800 firefighters using almost 20 Miles of Hose near Yellowstone weren t so fortunate As they tried to keep fire from crossing the Forest s Yellowstone Meadows also known As thoroughbred Meadows into the Park. Most growth in the lightning caused Teton fire was attributed to spotting when winds carry hot embers into areas separate from the main fire. Park officials have said they expect the fire to move into a Remote Bac country Section of the Park within the next few Days. Fire information officer Pam Gard Ner said Friday however that the Blaze was still More than 30 Miles from any major Park attractions and Yellowstone officials continued to stress they have not closed any facilities. Richards said the California fires had Cost a total of nearly $6.4 million including Timber and property loss and fire suppression efforts. Some of the fire fighters were sent Home Friday leaving about 2,800 to Battle the blazes. The fires charred nearly 12,500 acres leaving flames to gnaw mostly at uninhabited Timber country in Calaveras county. Meanwhile some 60 Miles South of san Francisco an out of control Brush fire threatened Homes Friday As hundreds of firefighters attempted to gain control of the Blaze in Steep terrain near Morgan Hill. The fire spurred by hot temperatures and slight winds had burned about 140 acres by Friday night according to the California forestry department. There were no reports of structural damage and no evacuation was anticipated at the fire site about 1 mile West of Morgan Hill. In Colorado a full fire team was called in to organize the Battle on Bureau of land management land some five Miles North of Canon City on Cooper Moun Tain blk dispatchers said late Friday. We will have ten 20-person hand Crews on the fire lines saturday sup ported by two slurry bombers two Heli copters and 11 truck pumpers dispatchers said. The fire dubbed the Dinosaur fire because it is near Fossil Sites was burning through an old logging area in Steep Ter rain and mainly was consuming Pinon Juniper and Oak Brush