spacetoday.net: Shuttle return to flight on track

Posted: Tue, Dec 7, 2004, 8:09 AM ET (1309 GMT)
STS-107: launch (NASA/KSC)

Plans to return the space shuttle to flight in May of 2005 are on schedule despite difficulties developing in-flight shuttle tile repairs, NASA managers said Monday. NASA has scheduled the first post-Columbia shuttle flight, the shuttle Discovery on flight STS-114, in a launch window that opens in mid-May. Officials said Monday that they believe they can still meet that schedule. NASA has "conditionally closed" five of 15 recommendations issued in August 2003 by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), and expects to begin closing out the remainder this month. Officials acknowledged, however, that it appears unlikely that they will be able to certify techniques for in-flight repairs of damaged shuttle tiles and panels, noting that these efforts have recently suffered setbacks. However, shuttle managers said that an in-flight repair capability is not required for the shuttle to return to flight, since a damaged shuttle could instead remain at the ISS until a rescue mission is launched.