[Bill Hemmer, Cnn Anchor:] NASA saying it will scrub the latest shuttle mission, due to trouble high above the earth. Miles O'Brien watching this story from the Kennedy space center. A lot of folks thought this might be in doubt as of last night and indeed it is off. Tell us why, Miles.
[Miles O'brien, Cnn Correspondent:] It is, Bill. Well, it goes back to yesterday afternoon, when the Russians attempted to dock an unmanned freighter at the international space station, a so-called progress vehicle, in an automated docking. Apparently what happened during that docking is a piece of debris got stuck in the docking collar, making it impossible for a tight seal between the two vehicles. So the progress is a little bit off center, not quiet or it's centered, but it's not quite tight as it should be. A so-called hard dock. Now, the Russians say that to clear that piece of debris, they're going to have to do a space walk involving the two cosmonauts currently on the space station. That space walk will happen no sooner than Monday. So the question is, is it safe for the space shuttle Endeavor, on the launch pad behind me, three miles behind me, safe to dock at the space station with that progress vehicle sort of, wobbling, if you will. That's is probably a stronger word than is reality, but nevertheless, not tightly sealed to the space station. The Russians insist it is safe. Nasa engineers want to double-check the math, quite frankly. That's what they're doing right now. And so when all that came down to the decision whether to fuel up the space shuttle Endeavor, they decided to wait 24 hours for the launch and feel very comfortable that it'll be safe for the progress vehicle, the shuttle, as well as the space station. Now, meanwhile, while we've been waiting here to talk to you, Bill, a couple of F-15 fighters have been circling overhead, right on top of the space shuttle, if you will, about 20, 000 feet above, at launch pad 39b. They are here, part of an unprecedented security effort. This is the first space shuttle launch since September 11th. Let's take a look at some of those precautions.
[Maj. Mike Rein, Air Force Spokesman:] All of our national space assets are very important to America, and the shuttle is the star of the fleet. And, we need to protect our access to space.
[O'brien:] An Air Force mobile air traffic control squadron set up shop on Cape Canaveral Air Station shortly after the terror attacks. Its high-powered radar scanning a 200-mile radius.
[Lt. Col. Randy Nelson, 728th Air Control Squadron:] In communications, the data-linking capability that we provide to the decision makers both up and down channel is literally instantaneous.
[O'brien:] Airspace around a shuttle launch has always been restricted. Private planes were allowed no closer than five nautical miles from the pad. For this launch, the map has been re-drawn. General aviation banned for 30 nautical miles, and from 30 to 40 miles, private planes will be allowed only with permission and with close contact to air traffic control. Fighter jets will be there in case a plane goes astray. Last month, they escorted the $2 Billion shuttle to the pad. But don't ask when and where they will be during the launch. Such is the nature of security measures, of course. [on camera]: Simply talking about them undermines their efficacy. But this much is clearly evident. The shuttle is a high profile icon of American technological achievement. And when fully fueled with a half million gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen, it has the explosive force of a small nuclear bomb. In short, it is a very tempting target for terrorists. [voice-over]: Nasa is thinking about human targets as well. When the astronauts march out to the launch pad, the public and media will not be there to wish them well as usual. Just one more way the space agency hopes to ensure things do, in fact, go well.
[Hemmer:] A really good tribute in space. Miles, quickly, what are they going to do with all of this security that had been in place? All those aircraft that had been on standby. I mean, this certainly is something that hasn't been done before. Now you have to make revisions. What's going to happen, any idea?
[O'brien:] Well, well, provisions quite literally. I don't know if you noticed at the beginning of the piece,here, there was a lot of honking.
[Hemmer:] Yeah.
[O'brien:] They're having to send over a vehicle to feed us because they will not let us leave the press mound to walk across the parking lot, about a half mile to the cafeteria. Onerous security, much of it focused at the media. We keep trying to tell them we're not the enemy, but they keep trying to... ...check into our...
[Hemmer:] Keep telling them that.
[O'brien:] cases and double-check us. But, nevertheless, it is unprecedented here. A bit of tension surrounding this launch. I think Nasa will breathe breathe a sigh of relief when Endeavor leaves the pad safely.
[Hemmer:] So they were honking the horn to let you know the food's there, that lunch has arrived, or what?
[O'brien:] Yeah. Well,, the term we use around here is the roach coach, Bill. And I should tell you right now, I'm hearing the F-15 fighters behind me. I don't know if we can see them, but they are orbiting around here, kind of adding to the whole, kind of surreal atmosphere we have been involved in. Steve Sorgas, my photographer unit, try to get it? Can you reach can you see them? He's going to pan off, Bill.
[Hemmer:] Yeah, right over your head. Yeah, we can see, sure.
[O'brien:] And then, we'll show you the F-15s up there, as they continue their efforts here to protect this airspace over the space shuttle Endeavor.
[Hemmer:] Look right there...
[O'brien:] And we're unable to see them right now.
[Hemmer:] We can see them slightly, a little lower, just off to the left a little lower on the horizon there. Going off to the left-hand side, for our viewers watching there.
[O'brien:] Yeah this has this has never happened in the history of Nasa. All going all the way back to the mercury days. There's never been this kind of tension surrounding a launch and this kind of security.
[Hemmer:] Got it. Well, keep us posted. Let us know what they decide when they decide. Miles, thanks.
[O'brien:] Will do.
[Hemmer:] Live in Florida, good deal.