CNN/AP: NASA clears space shuttle for return to Earth

[DeepModem Mom]

NASA clears space shuttle for return to Earth
Engineers: Protruding gap filler in Discovery's belly not a problem
Sunday, July 9, 2006


A gap filler can be seen protruding on the underside of Discovery near the left external tank door.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- Space shuttle Discovery's astronauts got some happy news Sunday: It's safe to fly home.

Mission Control informed the crew of six that the ship's thermal shielding is "100 percent cleared for entry" in another week....

***

Only one heat shield issue remained going into the late afternoon mission management meeting: a 2-inch-long piece of fabric filler sticking out about an inch from thermal tiles on Discovery's belly.

Engineers determined it wasn't necessary to have an astronaut pluck the strip during a spacewalk and that it posed no concern for the spaceship's return to Earth on July 17. So managers gave the heat shield an official bill of health.

Officials had already decided that several other nicks and spots -- ranging from bird droppings to frayed fabric -- were no big deal....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/07/09/space.shuttle.ap/index.html

[benburch]

1. Good.

But we should never fly it again.

Let's put the money into the replacement vehicle.

[TheWraith]

9. There is no money for a replacement vehicle.

That's why NASA was so desperate to get the shuttle back up--if they didn't start flying something again, they were one hairsbreadth away from having their remaining funding terminated.

[Ian David]

2. I wonder what North Korea is planning on launching that day? n/t

[mom cat]

3. Those must be pretty powerful bird droppings!

[54anickel]

4. The video mentioned at the end is up now....pretty awesome

NASA planned to post on its Web site Sunday first-of-its-kind video of Discovery's launch as seen from the reusable solid rocket boosters. The video, recovered last week with the boosters, mesmerized engineers in Houston on Saturday.



http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Over to the right of the page - STS-121 Right Forward Solid Rocket Booster Video

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Thanks, 54anickel! nt

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

10. STS-121 Right Forward Solid Rocket Booster Video ..awesome

Thanks for that link!

[cornermouse]

5. I'm not celebrating till they're on the ground, alive and safe.

[daleo]

7. They plucked out a couple of gap fillers last time

I guess these are in an area less prone to heating up, but it still leaves you wondering.

[Webster Green]

8. It sure would leave you wondering if you were on the shuttle...

What a ride!