spacetoday.net: NASA officials explain opposition to shuttle launch decision

Posted: Thu, Jun 22, 2006, 6:57 AM ET (1057 GMT)

Two top NASA officials said Wednesday that they voted "no-go" in a review for the launch of the next shuttle mission out of concern for the loss of the shuttle orbiter even though they felt that the crew could be rescued. In a teleconference with reporters, NASA chief engineer Chris Scolese and associate administrator for safety Bryan O'Connor said that they were concerned that foam could still fall off the external tank and damage the orbiter, despite modifications made to the external tank since the Columbia accident in 2003. While concerned that such impacts could damage an orbiter enough to prevent a safe reentry, the two said they still signed off on the launch because in the event of such damage the crew could remain on the station until a rescue mission is mounted. Shuttle managers maintain that the odds of such a damaging foam impact with the orbiter are remote, and NASA administrator Mike Griffin elected to proceed with the launch, scheduled for July 1.