NASA Chief Doubts Shuttle Will Take Off This Year

[Khephra]

It is becoming doubtful that space shuttle flights will resume this fall, as NASA has planned, because there have been problems developing some required safety upgrades, the space agency's administrator, Sean O'Keefe, said on Thursday.

Mr. O'Keefe, speaking at a House Science Committee hearing, said there was a "very low prospect" of shuttles returning to flight during the Sept. 12-Oct. 10 launching period because more work was needed to modify the external fuel tank and develop a device to inspect the heat shield.

Mr. O'Keefe would not speculate whether a shuttle would fly before next spring if a fall launching was missed. Daylight launching opportunities of only a few days are available in November and January, but some officials of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have questioned if that is enough time to perform all the preparations for a first flight.

more........

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/13/national/nationalspecial/13NASA.html

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

1. O'Keefe is a bean-counter

http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/bios/okeefe.htm

He reminds me of the manager of an Aero Club I once belonged to who said that the club would have a perfect safety record if only the airplanes were chained to the ramp.

I can't believe this assh*le wants to de-orbit the Hubble "because its orbit is so high a shuttle couldn't carry enough fuel to make it to the ISS in the event of an emergency."

Eventually NASA will be merged with the Defense Department, and finally be relegated to an office in the basement of the Pentagon.