NASA Still Unsure How To Inspect Shuttles In-Flight
Planned March Flight Faces Delays
POSTED: 5:52 p.m. EDT May 19, 2004
NASA is still struggling to find a way to inspect and repair any potentially deadly space shuttle gashes in orbit.
It's a hurdle that could prevent shuttle flights from taking off again next March as planned.
The former astronaut heading the return-to-flight task force said the biggest challenge involves a 50-foot inspection boom. He said unless the boom problem is solved quickly -- or an alternative found -- a spring launch may have to be delayed.
Spacewalkers could be used instead of the boom, but at extra risk to the crew.
NASA scrapped the first scheduled post-Columbia launch earlier this year to give it more time to work out a solution.
Columbia shattered over Texas on Feb. 1, 2003, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
It is believed that a piece of foam broke off from a fuel tank during launch, damaging the leading edge of one of the shuttle's wings. That hole could have allowed super-hot gasses inside the wing as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
Cameras has recorded the foam striking the shuttle, but there was no way to inspect the shuttle when it was in orbit.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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