NASA's latest space mission aboard the shuttle Discovery is set to launch on the 1st of July this year, amid heated debates concerning the risks and threats possible which might jeopardize the shuttle's re-entry after the 12 day flight to the International Space Station. The mission aims at escorting European astronaut Thomas Ritter and leaving supplies at the International Space Station.
NASA's Chief Security Officer Bryan O'Connor has strongly recommended that the flight be postponed since there is a probability that the shuttle's heat shield might get damaged due to shedding of foam from the brackets which secure lines of pressurization. It was exactly this problem that the Columbia had in 2003, with a large piece of foam hitting a wing, causing a catastrophe in which seven astronauts were killed.
Although engineers have removed a lining of insulating material from the shuttle's external fuel tank, thereby reducing chances of large foam formation, there is still the possibility that smaller pieces might be shed. There are 34 aerodynamic structures serving to shield the fuel tanks from the ice that will amass and these are likely to give off at least small pieces of foam.
However, NASA Administrator Dr. Michael Griffin points out that if this occurs during the launch, it will not hinder the Discovery's flight into space. In case falling debris hits the shuttle during re-entry, he asks the astronauts to make repairs or await rescue at the International Space Station.
This attitude does seem to fit with the 'culture of complacency' that the Columbia Accident Investigation Board accused NASA of, since it did not give prominence to engineer's safety concerns. However, another possible contributor to this risky hurry might be scheduling pressure.
Griffin himself admits that he experiences the strain of completing the International Space Station before 2010 and does not want to leave most of the work for the end. Significantly, this pressure prevents the taking of all precautions and negating all risks – a fact which contributed even to the Columbia tragedy.
The rehearsal took place last week with all members of the crew.
