Discovery shuttle set to go despite safety concerns

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2006

CAPE CANAVERAL, United States (AFP) — NASA hopes the weather will clear for Saturday's Discovery shuttle liftoff, a mission the space agency is going ahead with despite persistent doubts about safety three years after the Columbia tragedy.

As the launch countdown continued, officials sought to reassure the public that the US space agency has taken every step possible to protect the lives of its seven astronauts on their way to the International Space Station (ISS).

A glitch-free mission is essential to the future of the US space program as another major incident would likely immediately shut down the 25-year-old shuttle program, which is set to retire in 2010.

More than 100 cameras have been placed on ground locations and on aircraft to film the shuttle as...