Sat, Sep 30, 2006
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.
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