Space shuttle apparently performing well again

NASA officials reported disruption of the shuttle program's tracking and data-relay satellite system for 13 or 14 hours Wednesday and Thursday, but a test later showed it functioning again. Meanwhile, the astronauts hoisted a trucksize dumbbell over Challenger on the end of a robot arm Thursday, proving the crane can launch giant satellites in the future. And two days of testing with NASA's new $100 million data-relay satellite showed the station is ready to support the European-built Spacelab mission.