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Next Shuttle Flight Not Until March, At Least
Discovery Test Flight Showed Tank Problems Continue
POSTED: 7:29 am PDT August 18,
2005
Don't expect another shuttle launch any time soon.The next shuttle mission had been scheduled for September, but now is expected to occur no earlier than March.NASA grounded its fleet after a large, potentially deadly chunk of foam insulation broke off Discovery's modified external fuel tank during liftoff last month.Unlike in Columbia's tragic case, the piece did not hit the space ship this time. Columbia was destroyed on re-entry in 2003 after its left wing had been cracked during takeoff by a piece of the foam.One of the main missions of Discovery's flight was to test new methods of inspecting the orbiter for damage and repairing any problems that are found.Critics say NASA has been putting astronauts at risk by rushing to launch to meet deadlines even as design problems persist. A minority report from an oversight committee that was released Wednesday said the culture of NASA was still dangerous.
Previous Stories:
- August 17, 2005: Task Force Members Offer Scathing Attack On NASA
- August 12, 2005: Don't Expect Shuttle Flights This Year, NASA Says
- August 10, 2005: Hundreds Welcome Discovery Crew In Houston
- August 9, 2005: Discovery Crew Celebrates Successful Mission
- August 9, 2005: NASA: 'Good To Be Us' After Safe Landing
- August 8, 2005: NASA Outlines Backup Sites To Land Shuttle Tuesday
- August 7, 2005: Discovery Crew Heading Home
- August 6, 2005: NASA 'Ecstatic' About Discovery's Mission
- August 4, 2005: Discovery Blanket Doesn't Need Repair, NASA Says
- August 2, 2005: Spacewalk Preparations Under Way
- August 1, 2005: Astronauts Will Attempt Shuttle Repair In Space
- July 31, 2005: NASA Considering Repairs To Discovery Damage
- July 30, 2005: Discovery Mission Could Be Extended By A Day
- July 29, 2005: NASA Leader Says 2005 Flights Still Possible
- July 28, 2005: Foam Piece Likely Struck Shuttle; Discovery Still OK To Fly
- July 26, 2005: Discovery Returns U.S. To Spaceflight
- July 19, 2005: NASA Still Stumped By Fuel Gauge Problem
- July 15, 2005: NASA Could Launch Four Days From Fix -- If It's Found
- July 13, 2005: Shuttle Won't Be Ready Again Until At Least Saturday
- July 13, 2005: Planned Shuttle Flight Scrubbed By Glitch
- July 13, 2005: Cover Falls Off Shuttle, But Damage Can Be Fixed, NASA Says
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