CNN: NASA declares shuttle safe for return

[DeepModem Mom]

NASA declares shuttle safe for return
Saturday, July 30, 2005; Posted: 9:09 p.m. EDT (01:09 GMT)


CNN) -- NASA engineers have determined that Discovery can safely return to Earth and that the space shuttle's thermal tiles don't pose a safety hazard, deputy shuttle manager Wayne Hale said Saturday night.

Discovery's tiles received two dozen dings during launch.

NASA managers have also decided to extend the mission by an extra day -- to August 8 -- so astronauts can do more work, Hale said.

He said the decision came after determining there were sufficient "consumables" like food to keep the astronauts aloft. The extra time will allow astronauts to transfer more supplies to the international space station and help with station maintenance....

***

Space station managers also noted that an extension could compensate for possible delays caused by NASA's decision Wednesday to suspend future shuttle flights....


http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/07/30/space.shuttle/index.html

[thinkingwoman]

1. well of course

Nothing to see here. Move along. Pay no attention to the fact that they said the same thing last time one blew up.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. I would not want to be the manager who signed this

one!

Whew.

[babylonsister]

3. What's the option? No, they're doomed if they return?

I fear for this program. I hope they land safely. eom

[Benhurst]

5. One option: take the Russians up on their offer to pick up the

crew. Naw, that would embarrass Bush*. So what if there's risk? Go for it! One for the Dubya!

[babylonsister]

6. Get rid of their hubris and take the Ruskies up on their

deal. Or do we get to watch another 'ship' fall out of the sky?

[ConfuZed]

7. "They" feel that its more effective to gain power by....

scaring the people with terrorism to gain their trust and ultimate control instead of inspiring them with space exploration like they did during the cold war until present, this explains the recent massive funding cuts at NASA and the latest space accident.


:sarcasm:

[htuttle]

8. Do you think they'd just leave the shuttle up there?

Would that make it fair game for an orbital salvage mission (by the Chinese, for example)?

I wonder if you need a key to start it up?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

4. They also declared it safe to fly.

So, I think they're just pulling things out of their asses now.

[Gloria]

9. It's nice that they stuck the "glue" in some crack and there was

"no bubbling" like on Earth....

Doesn't that mean the stuff isn't working in a way they are familiar with?

How do they know it's going to stand up to the heat as the shuttle descends through the atmosphere?

I wouldn't want to be up there right now....

[Massacure]

10. Bubbling is a bad thing. NASA thought it would work better in space.

It seems they were right.