A technical problem has further delayed the final launch of Shuttle Endeavour until next Sunday. The latest delay was attributed to a bad fuse box, an indication of how complicated the space shuttles are and the reason the end of NASA’s shuttle program would be a long one.

Commander Mark Kelly and his crew members returned to Houston Sunday morning, a couple of days after the first launch attempt were delayed. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned by midafternoon to resume her rehabilitation. She went to Florida Wednesday to attend the launch. There was no indication if her doctors would allow her to return to Florida for the second attempt.

Engineers delayed the April 29 launch as engineers found a problem in Endeavour’s heating system. Heaters are crucial in preventing the shuttle’s fuel line from freezing in space. For the last ten years, the space shuttle has suffered from all kinds of technical problems that have delayed launches. These problems do not come as a surprise given the costs of acquiring these parts. Individual components costs 1 million and the amount could go up to 2.5 million when the giant fuel tanks and two boosters are added.

Technical problems grounded the Discovery for four months before being launched for the last time in February. The problem was attributed to a cracked fuel tank. Now Endeavour is experiencing delays as well due to technical glitches. Launch Director Mike Leinbach said that while it is easy to remove the defective switch box and replace it with a new one, a couple of days of testing will be needed for the multiple systems associated with the box.

According to Mike Moses, Chairman of the Mission Management Team, the earliest launch window will be next Sunday. He said that there is still short-term work to be done. This is the 25th and final flight for Endeavour, the youngest of NASA’s shuttles. Officials of the space agency say that they will no ease up on any launch rules despite the shuttle program winding down.

NASA established additional precautions after accidents during the 1986 Challenger and the 2003 Columbia launches where 14 members of the astronaut core died. Leinbach said that the Endeavour’s current problem is not a sign of its age. It made its debut launch in 1992 and officials did not know the age of the defective switch box.

The launch of Shuttle Atlantis could be affected if the delay with Endeavour becomes much longer. Atlantis will make its final launch on June 28. As of now, that date is still intact.

Shuttle Endeavour’s crew, meanwhile, will be quarantined at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Commander Kelly can visit his wife in rehab but needs to be free from germs and being contaminated by other people. At the conclusion of the shuttle program, NASA will rely on the Russian government to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station while private companies develop a new spacecraft.

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