The space shuttle Atlantis makes its way to launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Feb. 15, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhuanet) -- NASA will postpone the launch of space shuttle Atlantis at least to June 8, almost three months later than originally planned, based on the amount of work to fix its hail-damaged fuel tank, officials said Tuesday.

    Golfball-sized hail damaged the insulating foam of Atlantis' fuel tank as it sat on the launch pad in February, forcing the ship back into a processing hangar for repairs.

    NASA has hoped to fix the dings and gouges in the tank in time to launch Atlantis in May on a mission to deliver more power modules to the International Space Station.

    But NASA managers said they were pleased with the progress of repairs that already have been made.

    "We don't see any showstoppers in front of us ... but there is still a lot of work to be done," said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for space operations.

    NASA has been particularly sensitive about the tank's insulation since the 2003 Columbia accident, which was triggered by a piece of tank foam debris that fell off and hit the shuttle's heat shield during liftoff.

    The shuttle broke apart, killing all seven astronauts aboard when returning through the atmosphere for landing.

    (Agencies)