NASA Shuttle to Launch Despite Worries

As NASA prepares space shuttle Discovery for launch from the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, relatives of the crew of the Columbia are breathing heavy.

Columbia broke apart killing all seven astronauts aboard as it prepared to land Feb. 1, 2003 and the U.S. shuttle program has been grounded ever since.

Dr. Jonathan Clark’s wife, Laurel, was on the Columbia. Ironically, Clark works in risk management at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and he’s nervous about Discovery.

The Houston Chronicle reports although NASA has made many safety changes to the shuttle and its external fuel tank in the past two and a half years, Clark isn’t convinced they’ve done enough.

Clark will join other family members of the Columbia crew to watch the Discovery launch.