The US space shuttle Endeavour has apparently cleared a test for potentially harmful hydrogen leaks that had twice delayed its high-profile launch, NASA says.
Engineers from the US space agency seemed to have successfully repaired the external fuel tank of the shuttle, which is waiting to embark on its final mission to the International Space Station (ISS) with a seven-member crew.
The massive tank was filled with 526,000 gallons (two million litres) of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
During the test "no abnormal gaseous hydrogen leaks were detected," NASA said, which increases the chances that Endeavour will be set for a launch on July 11.
After the tank was 98 per cent full, it successfully began its "topping" mode, during which the June 13 and June 17 leaks had occurred.
NASA has said a misaligned plate linking the hydrogen gas vent line with the external fuel tank had caused the leak.
Endeavour is set to travel on a 16-day voyage to install a platform on the ISS, allowing astronauts to conduct experiments in the vacuum of space, 350 kilometres above Earth's surface.
It is the last of three missions to assemble the Japanese Kibo laboratory aboard the orbiting space station.
The race is on to finish construction before NASA ends its shuttle missions in September 2010.
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