Would Be First Night Liftoff Since Columbia

Buoyed by the success of the last three shuttle launches, NASA is aiming to send Discovery into orbit a week earlier than the planned December 14 launch date. The move would give NASA workers time off for the Christmas holiday.

"It was an opportunity to allow employees to have more time with their families over the holidays," said Kennedy Space Center spokeswoman Jessica Rye, as quoted by Reuters. The original December 14 launch date would result in Discovery returning to Earth around December 25.

If all goes as planned, Discovery will liftoff from Kennedy Space Center at 9:38 pm EDT December 7. If cleared by mission managers, it will be NASA's first night launch since the 2003 loss of Columbia.

NASA imposed daylight-only restrictions on shuttle launches in the aftermath of the Columbia tragedy, in order to give cameras a clear view of the shuttle's external fuel tank, and any debris that may fall off at strike the orbiter. Such a foam strike is blamed for the subsequent reentry breakup of Columbia.

With the foam shedding problem apparently lessened by design changes made to the external tank -- as well as inflight inspections to check for damage, and a contingency plan should another orbiter receive damage to its heat shield -- NASA is moving towards allowing night launches once again. Radar would take the place of cameras to detect any potentially damaging debris.

NASA needs to fly at least 14 more construction missions to the International Space Station prior to the shuttle fleet's retirement in 2010.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html