spacetoday.net: Missing object not a concern for shuttle reentry

Posted: Fri, Jun 13, 2008, 2:05 PM ET (1805 GMT)

An object that appeared to float away from the space shuttle Discovery Friday morning does not pose a risk to the orbiter's reentry and landing on Saturday, shuttle officials said. The metallic-looking object, at least 30 cm long, was spotted by the shuttle crew after tests of the shuttle's control systems needed for reentry. Engineers later said the object was most likely part of a barrier in the shuttle's tail that is used only for heating protection during launch, and plays no role during reentry. The shuttle crew also reported seeing a "bump" in the tail that was thought to be a protruding object, but later found to be just part of the normal configuration of the tail. The shuttle is still scheduled for landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:02 am EDt (1502 GMT).