posted 06-30-2005 02:41 PM               

NASA Gives Go for Space Shuttle Return to Flight

NASA has cleared the Space Shuttle to Return to Flight. After a two-day Flight Readiness Review meeting at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, senior managers approved a July 13 launch date for Discovery.

Commander Eileen Collins and her crew are scheduled to lift off at 3:51 p.m. EDT on the first U.S. space flight since the February 2003 loss of the Shuttle Columbia.

"After a vigorous, healthy discussion our team has come to a decision: we're ready to go," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said after the meeting. "The past two and half years have resulted in significant improvements that have greatly reduced the risk of flying the Shuttle. But we should never lose sight of the fact that space flight is risky.

"The Discovery mission, designated STS-114, is a test flight," Griffin said, noting that astronauts will try out a host of new Space Shuttle safety enhancements. In addition, Discovery will carry 15 tons of supplies and replacement hardware to the International Space Station. July 13 is the beginning of three weeks of possible launch days that run through July 31.

NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Operations, William Readdy, chaired the Flight Readiness Review, the meeting that traditionally sets launch dates and assesses the Shuttle's fitness to fly.

"Today's decision is an important milestone in returning the Shuttle to service for the country. Our technical and engineering teams are continuing their in-depth preparations to ensure that Eileen and her crew have a successful mission," he said.

posted 06-30-2005 07:38 PM            

Despite exhaustive work and considerable progress over the past 2 1/2 years, NASA has been unable to eliminate the possibility of dangerous pieces of foam and ice from breaking off the external fuel tank and striking the shuttle at liftoff, the return-to-flight task force said.

posted 06-30-2005 07:59 PM               

quote:

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The chief investigator of the Columbia disaster said Wednesday he's fine with NASA resuming shuttle launches in just two weeks, even though the space agency falls short of making three safety improvements he called for in 2003.

"It sounds to me like they're ready to go," retired Navy Adm. Harold Gehman Jr. said in an interview with The Associated Press. "As far as what I know, they have taken all the steps necessary to be ready to fly in July."

Gehman said the accident investigators never meant NASA had to carry out to the letter the changes recommended for the shuttle. "We didn't want it to be a poison pill," he said of one of the especially vexing improvements.

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posted 06-30-2005 10:53 PM               

June 13, 1983: Pioneer 10 becomes the first spacecraft to leave the Solar System.

July 13, 1969: Luna 15 launches in a failed attempt by the Soviets to beat the U.S. by returning lunar soil to Earth.

August 13, 1998: Soyuz TM-28 launches Padalka, Avdeyev, and Baturn on a flight to the Mir Space Station.

September 13, 1961: Mercury 4 launches on the first mission to deliver the unmanned spacecraft to Earth orbit.

October 13, 1969: Soyuz 8 launches on a failed mission to dock with Soyuz 7 and rendezvous with Soyuz 6.

November 13, 1971: Mariner 9 becomes the first spacecraft to enter orbit around another planet, Mars.

December 13, 1967: Pioneer 8 launches to explore Earth's magnetotail and wake which streams from the Sun.

January 13, 1978: NASA selects its first class of female astronauts, including Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan.

February 13, 1997: The STS-82 crew plucks the Hubble Space Telescope from its orbit to upgrade its instruments.

March 13, 1989: STS-29 launches aboard Discovery to deploy the third Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS).

April 13, 1970: An explosion strands Apollo 13 (Lovell, Haise, and Swigert) between the Earth and the Moon.

May 13, 1992: Hieb, Akers, and Thuot grab hold of Intelsat VI during an unprecedented three-man spacewalk.

posted 07-01-2005 01:14 PM               

but anyway...it will become a great day for manned space exploration !!!

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michael may www.ag-99.de/spacenet/main/main.html

posted 07-05-2005 02:22 PM               

I prefer 13 million $ than 12.
And as we say in Spain:
"Ser supersticioso, trae mala suerte". In English: "To be superstitious, brings bad luck"

And for all people who have the good luck to see the launch in Florida, this is the weather report here in Zaragoza (Primary TAL site):

Today we have +28º C. of Max. and +16º C of min., with NE to SW winds of 16 km/h (This wind is called "CIERZO" and cleans the atmosphere of fog and clouds, and refresh the summer)

For July 11 (last available) we will have +34º C. of Max. and +21º C of min., without winds and partially cloudy.

posted 07-13-2005 12:55 PM               

I hope the shuttle flies very soon.