Discovery STS 121 mission launched successfully!
Photo gallery of the space shuttle launch
Despite worries about the insulating foam issue, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has decided to schedule the launch of the space shuttle Discovery for July 1. It was problems with the insulating foam that caused the space shuttle Columbia to disintegrate in 2003. The accident was caused by foam ramp breaking off and crashing into the space shuttle, damaging insulation panels. The accident resulted in the death of all seven shuttle crew members.
The decision to launch STS 121 on July 1 was taken after a final review where two of the 25 shuttle management team members — the chief engineer, Chris Scolese, and the head of Safety and Mission Assurance, Bryan O'Connor— recommended the launch be delayed until design changes had been made to the fuel tank. At the end of the review, however, the two were outvoted by the rest of the team.
For Space Shuttle Discovery Launch pictures, visit this page on
July 1 for the photo gallery.
The team was of the opinion that even if foam came off a part of the tank known as the ice frost ramps, it would not pose any danger to the STS 121 space shuttle crew.
According to reports, Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for space operations, has been quoted as saying that the two officials "recommended that we not fly, but they do not object to us flying."
The foam problem had persisted during Discovery's launch last year. A 1-pound piece of foam had come off during the launch. The foam did not cause damage to the space shuttle, however. About 35 pounds of insulating foam have already been removed from the fuel tank. That foam was in two large chunks along the side of the tank. After extensive wind tunnel testing, engineers said losing that foam that would not endanger the air-worthiness of the shuttle.
The function of the foam is to prevent ice build-up on the fuel tanks. No modifications have been made to beat the problem of foam breaking off. NASA will study the foam phenomenon in this launch to understand the problem and make design changes for future flights.
Meanwhile, Discovery shuttle's seven crew members, headed by European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany, rehearsed the launch last week. The other crew members are Stephanie Wilson, Lisa Nowak, British born U.S. astronaut Piers Sellers, Mark Kelly, Michael Fossum, and Steven Lindsey, commander.
More news and pictures on the STS 121 space shuttle Discovery launch
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