Space shuttle Discovery gets clean bill of health

By Irene Klotz

HOUSTON (Reuters) – Space shuttle Discovery got a clean
bill of health from NASA managers on Sunday, as they declared
it “absolutely clear” to make a scorching return to Earth with
no concerns about damage to the spacecraft’s heat shield.

Coupled with favorable reports on the shuttle’s external
fuel tank during launch last week, NASA is now confident the
shuttle program can safely resume construction of the
International Space Station as early as next month.

Assembly has been on hold since the 2003 Columbia disaster.

“Everything seems to be back on track,” said Germany’s
Thomas Reiter, who hitched a ride on Discovery to join the
space station crew as a third member to remain on board.

Teams of experts worked overnight to resolve lingering
concerns about a piece of material protruding from between
heat-resistant tiles on Discovery’s belly. They also focused on
two bits of torn insulation blankets.

“Not only did the team pound these issues flat, they put a
dimple in the board when all was said and done,” said Steve
Poulos, orbiter project manager at the Johnson Space Center in
Houston. “We are absolutely clear and ready to bring this
vehicle home whenever the mission is accomplished,” he said.

Discovery is scheduled to return to Earth July 17.

The shuttle crew spent their sixth day in space unpacking
some of the 2 tons of cargo they brought along for the space
station. Ground controllers kept news of the World Cup soccer
championship flowing to Reiter and British-born astronaut Piers
Sellers, both of whom had favored France to win.

The astronauts’ comments on competitors France and Italy,
were replayed in part on a big screen at the stadium in Berlin
where the World Cup final was played.

“You guys are rock stars,” said astronaut Lee Archambault
from Mission Control in Houston.

SPACEWALK NO. 2

Sellers and U.S. colleague Michael Fossum were preparing
for the second of three spacewalks planned for the shuttle’s
13-day mission, slated to begin at 8:13 a.m. EDT on Monday. It
is devoted to repairing the station’s mobile rail cart, which
totes heavy components into position for installation.

Good news about Discovery has given NASA confidence its
$1.3 billion safety upgrade of the shuttles following the
Columbia fiasco is a success, and NASA can complete assembly of
the station before the three-ship fleet is retired in 2010.

Sixteen nations are sponsoring the $100 billion space
station, which is only half built and will require another 16
space shuttle flights to complete.

Reiter, the only station crew member to date who is not
American or Russian, said his stay aboard the outpost will mark
a transition from what had been a bilateral project to one
moving toward true international participation.

Reiter represents the European Space Agency, which is
counting on having its Columbus space laboratory module coupled
up with the space station after a planned launch next year.

The Columbia accident derailed NASA’s plan to launch
Europe’s lab in 2004. The shuttle broke apart as it descended
toward Florida on February 1, 2003, because of a hole punched
in its wing heat shield by insulating foam that shook loose
from the external fuel tank during launch.

Hot gases entered the breach during its fiery descent
through the atmosphere, which destroyed the spacecraft and
killed the seven astronauts on board.

More large foam chunks came loose during Discovery’s
liftoff on the first post-Columbia flight last summer. Only
small pieces of foam popped off during last week’s launch, none
of which posed a threat to the vehicle or crew, NASA said.