European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes Friday May 24,1991space shuttle flew despite faulty sensor a by Kathy Sawyer \ the Washington Post a a a a a Washington a the space shuttle Columbia has a dodged a Bullet by flying repeatedly with a poorly redesigned and badly cracked temperature sensor a top shuttle manager said wednesday. Columbian a launch scheduled for wednesday was delayed after Nasa officials received their first report on the problem from a contractor late monday. The dimensions of the problem were not recognized for seven months in part because contractor  International initially sent a faulty sensor which had been removed for analysis to the wrong subcontractor. On wednesday engineers found similar though less serious cracks on at least two and possibly four fuel line sensors in another orbiter discovery. Dan Germany who Heads the orbiter program at the Johnson space Center said Nasa will improve procedures aimed at expediting analysis of any problems with shuttle hardware deemed crucial to flight safety such As the sensor. V the sensor was removed from Columbia last september when it was suspected of contributing to the excessive Hydrogen leakage that grounded the shuttle Fleet last summer. But another culprit was identified As the major source of the leaks arid the temperature sensors leakage was found to be minor so it was Given Low priority after that Germany said. As it turned out the part was severely cracked. A we dodged a Bullet on that a Germany said. A the Weld was cracked All the Way around. The inside was cracked As Well. It was a matter of time before that tip would have broken  ,. The broken piece would have been carried with the fuel into the orbiters High pressure Turbo pump causing an engine failure at the very least. Officials said there is no Way to Tell How Long the part had been cracked. It had been aboard Columbia for seven flights. All of the sensors from Columbia and discovery found to have been cracked Are of a modified design. Documents detail subs troubled past san Diego a two nuclear submarines alleged by Crew members to have radiation leaks have a Long history of accidents according to Navy documents the documents released wednesday by Greenpeace list such accidents As fires flooding and collisions. Some of the accidents Happy cd after Crew members complained of unsafe conditions according to the documents. Several Crew members from the guard fish and the Haddock have said the vessels arc unsafe ,. The guard fish left port tuesday after being delayed amid allegations that it had a Leaky nuclear reactor. The Haddock the subject of similar allegations remained in  Navy has said the two subs were delayed for routine maintenance and inspections but Greenpeace spokeswoman Karen Topakian dismissed that claim. A i done to think anything is routine when you re talking about a ship that is nuclear powered a Topakian said. She said the Navy follows a a four Point Ian in dealing with safety concerns raised y sailors silence the whistle blowers move the ship conduct an internal investigation and keep any results a secret. T Navy officials released a statement calling the allegations unfounded. The population Boom average expected annual population growth rate 1990-95 East Asia China Hong Kong Japan Korea Mongolia 1 Oceania Australia new zealand. South Pacific South Asia Afghanistan Bangladesh India Iran Nepal Pakistan sri Lanka Bhutan 1990 2000 2010 2020 2025 source United nations i groups unite to counter Ion a a it a a design deficiency from a structural Point of View a Germany said. Nine of the sensors were installed in each of the or biters in order to Monitor the temperature of the propellants a volatile super cold liquid Hydrogen and liquid oxygen a flowing into the three main engines but Early in the shuttle program engineers detected electrical problems that prompted them to redesign the parts changing the Way they were welded he said. Rockwell initially sent the part to a valve company in California instead of to ref corp. Of Hudson n.h., which makes the sensors Germany said ref finally received it in january and in april completed a report saying that the sensor was cracked. The sensor was then sent to a metallurgist whose report suggested that. The temperature of the propellant might have induced the welds to crack. \ engineers Are considering either replacing the modified sensors with parts made to the original stronger design or replacing those that could threaten the engines with Dummy plugs. Defense seeks injunction in Kennedy Case Palm Beach Fla. A William Kennedy Smiths attorneys Are asking a judge to silence prosecutors and police investigating the alleged rape at the Kennedy estate. The defense filed a motion with circuit judge Mary Lupo seeking an injunction against a extrajudicial commentary by the state attorney and the police. A the intervention of the court is Nec Essaiy now to preserve whatever possibility remains that or. Smith will receive a fair trial on the charges levelled against him a the attorneys said. I the request was filed shortly before the close of business wednesday. No court action on the request was immediately scheduled. Smith a 30-year-old Nephew of sen. Edward Kennedy is charged with raping a 29-year-old woman March 30. He has denied any wrongdoing. Colleges plan recruitment a Jeff Magness sex pow sworn in to fill House seat Washington a Texas Republican Sam Johnson a fighter Pilot held prisoner in North Vietnam for seven years was sworn in wednesday As a member of the House of representatives. Johnson a 60-year-old former state lawmaker won 52 percent in a Runoff election saturday for the scat of Republican Styc Bartlett who resigned from the House to run for mayor of Dallas. By Holly k. Hacker the los Angeles times Washington a a diverse group of environmentalists scientists Nobel laureates and others launched a concerted Effort wednesday to heighten Public awareness of the disastrous social and  of overpopulation. Warning that the current world population of 5.4 billion could nearly triple by the Middle of the next Century if current growth trends continue the group urged president Bush to renew his support of family planning and population control efforts. A together the increase in population Boston apr Massachusetts Anc West Virginia Are preparing a proposal to recruit 5,000 Kuwait University Stu dents to attend Public and private col Leges and universities in their states Kuwait University was damaged during the persian Gulf War and the Kuwait government asked Massachusetts ant West Virginia whether either could accommodate displaced students. Massachusetts gov. William f. Weld administration has said the influx of Kuwait students could mean $75 million to it his states ailing Economy. The undergraduates a mostly major West urged to further East e u to p o o n t to d @ is engineering a could resume thei educations this fall if a plan from Eithe state is accepted by the kuwaiti govern ment. And in resource consumption Are Basic causes of human suffering and environmental degradation and must become major priorities for National and International action a said a statement endorsed by More than 100 individuals and environment population and family planning organizations. 7 wednesdays Public Appeal Marks the revival of a 1960s-Era coalition of environmental and population control activists Many of whom later went their separate ways to pursue More specific agendas. Despite the United front the coalition could run afoul of abortion and birth control opponents. Washington a the head of the International monetary fund scolded the United states and other Industrial countries on wednesday for keeping goods from Eastern Europe out of their countries As it emerges from communist Rule. A it is deeply regrettable that so Little has been done by the Industrial countries to open up their markets to imports from the reforming countries a the if chief Michael Ca Dessus said in a speech pre pared for a conference of the Chicago Council on foreign relations. A this reluctance could put in jeopardy the historically momentous process of systemic reforms in Eastern  Ca Dessus who is French said that Western Europe has a special responsibility to Welcome the Trade of its Eastern european neighbors but that the United states and Japan must share the responsibility. He also complained on behalf of poor countries in Africa and Asia. A the barriers set by the Industrial countries against Many products that Are important for the poorest countries including textiles and clothing footwear and some tropical agricultural products remain High a he said. He urged completion of the Uruguay round of Trade talks which involve 108 countries in the Effort to break Down barriers. Kuwaiti officials met last month will Weld and with West Virginia gov. Gas ton Caperton and both states Are preparing proposals. Massachusetts apparently was Chosei because of its educational reputation and West Virginia was picked because o informal contacts Between kuwaiti officials and . Military officials who Liv there