The space shuttle will not fly again this year, NASA said Sunday. It cited a faulty fuel sensor in putting back a mission which would hoist Europe’s Columbus lab up to the International Space Station.

Launch on Sunday was abandoned after one of four engine cut-off sensors gave a false reading when the shuttle’s external fuel tank was being filled. A previous launch attempt on December 6th was delayed after two of the sensors gave false readings. NASA requires all four of the sensors, which shut down the shuttle’s main engines if fuel runs low, to be working (NASA press release).

“Sensor No. 3 has failed,” NASA launch commentator George Diller said early on Sunday morning. He helpfully added: “This is not good news.” (McClatchy Newspapers.)

The Houston Chronicle said a third sensor had malfunctioned after problems with the first two on the 6th. Sunday’s fault was apparently with one of those that originally misbehaved. Problems with the gauges previously surfaced in 2005 but NASA believed it had solved these, the paper says.

“We were ready to fly, but understand that these types of technical challenges are part of the space program,” said the astronauts due to visit space on this STS-122 mission (NASA). “We hope everyone gets some well-deserved rest, and we will be back to try again when the vehicle is ready to fly.”

A new launch may be attempted early in January.

More on Columbus – Nature news story (subscription required).

Image: shuttle Atlantis stands on Launch / NASA/George Shelton