Posted: Fri, Dec 17, 2004, 8:49 AM ET (1349 GMT)
An independent panel reviewing NASA's shuttle return-to-flight efforts said Thursday that the agency has closed out about half of the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB). The Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group said Thursday that NASA had complied with six of the CAIB's 15 recommendations, and has "conditionally closed" two more. NASA has previously stated that the agency will comply with all 15 recommendations before the shuttle returns to flight. The panel was optimistic that the shuttle can launch in May or June of 2005, as currently scheduled, based on the progress NASA has made to date. One concern, though, is that efforts to develop an on-orbit repair capability for the shuttle's tiles and panels has proved difficult.

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