NASA PLANS TO FLY THE SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY IN JULY WITHOUT FURTHER CHANGES TO THE EXTERNAL FUEL TANK, DESPITE SOME ENGINEERS' CONCERNS THAT THE TANK NEEDS MORE WORK, OFFICIALS SAID ON FRIDAY. FOAM INSULATION FALLING OFF THE TANK DURING LAUNCH DAMAGED SHUTTLE COLUMBIA'S HEAT SHIELD, CAUSING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CRAFT AND THE DEATHS OF SEVEN ASTRONAUTS AS THE SHIP ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE ON FEB. 1, 2003. THE PROBLEM AREA WAS REDESIGNED, BUT FOAM FROM ANOTHER PART OF THE TANK FELL OFF DURING THE JULY 2005 LAUNCH OF SISTER SHIP DISCOVERY ON THE FIRST POST-COLUMBIA MISSION. THE DEBRIS DID NOT DAMAGE DISCOVERY. NASA IS IN THE MIDST OF TESTING ITS SECOND REDESIGN, WHICH REMOVED TWO WEDGES OF FOAM THAT SHIELD CABLES AND PRESSURIZATION LINES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK FROM BUFFETING WINDS DURING THE SHUTTLE'S SUPERSONIC CLIMB TO ORBIT. "THE QUESTION IS 'WILL THE VEHICLE HOLD TOGETHER OR NOT?'" SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM CHIEF WAYNE HALE SAID IN A TELECONFERENCE WITH REPORTERS. "IF THE ANSWER IS 'NO,' WELL WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE." THAT DECISION WILL BE MADE DURING A PREFLIGHT REVIEW ON JUNE 16. THE REMOVAL OF THE 38-FOOT-(11.6-METRE-)LONG AND 14-FOOT- (4.3-METRE-) LONG FOAM RAMPS ALSO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT 34 SMALL FOAM WEDGES WHICH COVER METAL BRACKETS THAT ANCHOR THE PRESSURIZATION LINES AND A TRAY HOUSING THE CABLES. --MORE 2315 Local Time 2015 GMT
