A space program worker deliberately damaged a computer that is supposed to be taken to the International Space Station on the shuttle Endeavour in less than two weeks, a NASA official alleged Thursday.

The suspected act of sabotage was caught before the equipment was loaded onto the spaceship, NASA said.

Bill Gerstenmaier of NASA says damage done to a computer destined for the International Space Station would not have put astronauts in danger.
(John Raoux/Associated Press)

The computer is designed for use aboard the space station, not the shuttle, and the damage would have posed no danger to either shuttle or station astronauts, said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's space operations chief.

The unidentified employee, who works for a NASA subcontractor, allegedly cut wires inside the computer, he said.

The worker also allegedly damaged a similar computer that was not meant to go into space.

Gerstenmaier did not identify the subcontractor or where the damage took place. NASA's inspector general office is investigating.

NASA hopes to fix the computer and take it to the space station as planned aboard Endeavour on Aug. 7.