Shuttle work may stall other launches

0 Comments | USA TODAY, August, 2007 | by Traci Watson

NASA officials are optimistic that space shuttle Endeavour will land safely today, but they conceded Monday that future shuttle launches are in jeopardy.

Just two months before the next planned mission, NASA has decided to revamp a section of the shuttle's fuel tank that cracked off during Endeavour's Aug. 8 launch and gouged the shuttle's heat shield. The dent does not threaten the crew's safety, NASA says.

Endeavour is scheduled to touch down today at 12:32 p.m. ET at its landing strip at Cape Canaveral. The weather forecast looks promising, entry flight director Steve Stich said Monday. There's only a slight chance of showers or strong winds that could delay the spacecraft's homecoming.

The next shuttle mission is scheduled for Oct. 23. Any...