WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US space shuttle fleet could return to space as early as December even though the board investigating the loss of the shuttle Columbia has not yet issued its report, the New York Times reported.

The newspaper, citing NASA officials, said the agency had apparently concluded that no enormously time-consuming changes will be required before the shuttle fleet returns to space.

Officials told the daily the upcoming report by the Columbia Accident Investigation board may include problems they are not yet aware of, but the existing problems can be fixed with changes in hardware and management of the manned spaceflight program.

An interim recommendation could come as early as Tuesday telling NASA to work to fix the problems with falling foam, develop techniques to repair shuttle damage in orbit and develop rescue strategies, the Times reported.

None of those recommendations will present insurmountable obstacles to returning to space, a board official.


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QUOTE

The newspaper, citing NASA officials, said the agency had apparently concluded that no enormously time-consuming changes will be required before the shuttle fleet returns to space

In NASA language when they speak of "time-consuming changes" don't they mean "years" and not "months" (it would take to make these changes)? If they will safely be ready to launch by December then all the power to them, but is this really a possibility? It seems a little rushed to me. I don't think the American public would be too disappointed if they put this off for awhile. I know I wouldn't...

QUOTE (starlyte @ Jun 24 2003, 04:51 PM)

QUOTE The newspaper, citing NASA officials, said the agency had apparently concluded that no enormously time-consuming changes will be required before the shuttle fleet returns to space In NASA language when they speak of "time-consuming changes" don't they mean "years" and not "months" (it would take to make these changes)? If they will safely be ready to launch by December then all the power to them, but is this really a possibility? It seems a little rushed to me. I don't think the American public would be too disappointed if they put this off for awhile. I know I wouldn't...

Starlyte.........
I have been communicating with an Engineer at The Johnson
Space Center since shortly after the loss of Columbia.

He constantly stresses the NECESSITY of safety and BUDGET
problems that, in his opinion caused the loss of Seven Men and Women
February 1, 2003.

This site may give you a tad more detail:
http://space.com/missionlaunches/sts107_ca...aib_030625.html

NOTE the following from the above article:
"NASA has already taken steps to prevent a repeat of the foam strike. The so-called left bipod foam ramp, part of a fixture that attaches the space shuttle's giant orange external tank to the space shuttle orbiter, is being redesigned to eliminate the concern"

Please don't forget that the complete Columbia Accident Investigation Board has not concluded their investigation, so it is POSSIBLE that this knee jerk reaction indicating December 2004, may be reconsidered.

The other factor to keep in mind is....... The International Space Station is still zooming in orbit 250 miles above us, with a two man crew. We can't forget what is happening onboard Alpha, yet, at the same time..... RUSH into "We have Liftoff" prematurely.