The launch of the space shuttle 'Discovery' will go ahead as scheduled Wednesday after technicians replaced two protective tiles damaged near the spacecraft's tail Tuesday, a NASA spokeswoman said. The tiles were damaged when a cover panel on the No. 7 cockpit window fell off as the orbiter sat on the launch pad late in the afternoon, CNN quoted officials as saying. "Everything looks good," Discovery vehicle manager Stephanie Stilson told reporters. "This is a minor repair for us." Wednesday's scheduled launch will be the first mission for the shuttle program since the Columbia disaster in February 2003 that killed all seven astronauts aboard. Liftoff is set for 3:51 p.m. ET from launch pad 39B. Discovery has been outfitted with an expansive array of safety modifications to avert another disaster.
