"There were many different viewpoints about whether we were
ready to fly, and we’ve decided that we are ... This is a
matter of programmatic risk, not crew risk. The shuttle will be
retired in 2010. We need to accept some programmatic risk and get
on with it. That is not the same as accepting crew risk."
Source: NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, during
Saturday's announcement that the agency has cleared the Shuttle
Discovery for a July 1 launch, despite objections from NASA's
safety engineer and chief engineer that a "No Go" decision for
launch should be posted until the foam surrounding the external
fuel tank's 37 ice/frost ramps can be redesigned.
FMI: www.nasa.gov
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