NASA gives go-ahead for Discovery launch October 23

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) — NASA on Tuesday gave the go-ahead for the October 23 launch of the space shuttle Discovery, despite an independent panel's recommendation to first replace three thermal tiles on the shuttle.

After a four-hour debate, "the Flight Readiness Review board decided we were in an acceptable risk posture to go fly," shuttle program manager Wayne Hale told reporters late Tuesday.

"Which is not to say," he added, however, "that we completely and perfectly understand the problem that has been laid out and we'll continue to work very hard on it.

"If the risk grows to an unacceptable level we'd take action whether to change that hardware or to delay some flights while we do testing," Hale said, stressing the complexity of the problem.

The...