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Space shuttle Discovery gets clean bill of health

Posted on: Sunday, 9 July 2006, 19:14 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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