NASA set for delicate shuttle heat shield repair - (New potential problem)

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N02594960.htm

HOUSTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - NASA on Tuesday prepared for an unprecedented spacewalk to the belly of space shuttle Discovery to remove dangling cloth strips from the ship's delicate heat shield and pondered another potential problem.

U.S. space agency managers were looking into whether a damaged insulating blanket beneath the shuttle commander's window could break off and strike Discovery during its return to Earth next week at the end of the first shuttle mission since the destruction of sister ship Columbia in 2003.

NASA could add a fourth spacewalk to Discovery's mission if more repairs are needed, said shuttle deputy program manager Wayne Hale. A decision was expected on Thursday.

Instead of taking a planned half-day off on Tuesday, the Discovery crew prepared for the unplanned heat shield work slated for the third spacewalk of the mission. It was set to begin at 4:14 a.m. EDT (0814 GMT) on Wednesday.

[sam sarrha]

1. do you think any will refuse to re-enter in it.after the presidents thinly

veiled intimidation .. about being brave

[Deja Q]

2. If we can't get into orbit right, now the hell can we get to MARS?

Maybe all of this is NASA's way of saying "Sod off, *."

[applegrove]

3. Cross our fingers.