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Endeavour May Not Need Repair

Shuttle should be able to return to Earth safely

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 15, 2007 8:29 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Repairs to the damaged heat shield on the space shuttle Endeavor may not be needed before the shuttle's return to Earth, NASA says, based on the first set of tests, completed yesterday. Program managers say they are "cautiously optimistic" that business-card-sized gash in Endeavour's thermal tiles shouldn't pose a threat as the shuttle re-enters the atmosphere. Testing is expected to be finished by later today.

The good news came after a day in which NASA finally realized a long-delayed dream of a teacher talking to students from space. Astronaut Barbara Morgan took questions and chatted with with hundreds of children crowded into a science museum near the school where she was a teacher. NASA would like to avoid a spacewalk to repair the damage because such an operation would be risky both to the astronauts and to the shuttle itself.

In this image from NASA television, space shuttle Endeavour astronauts Dave Williams, back row left, Barbara Morgan, center, Benjamin Drew and space station crew member Clayton Anderson, center front, wave to school children in Boise, Idaho Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA TV)
In this image from NASA television, space shuttle Endeavour astronauts Dave Williams, back row left, Barbara Morgan, center, Benjamin Drew and space station crew member Clayton Anderson, center front,...   (Associated Press)
This photo provided by NASA was taken Sunday Aug. 12, 2007 using the space shuttle Endeavor's robotic arm and 50-foot-long Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS). This close-up view of damaged tile on the underside of the Endeavour was photographed during a focused inspection of the shuttle's heat shield while docked...
This photo provided by NASA was taken Sunday Aug. 12, 2007 using the space shuttle Endeavor's robotic arm and 50-foot-long Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS). This close-up view of damaged tile on the...   (Associated Press)
In this image from NASA television, space shuttle Endeavour astronauts Tracy Caldwell, left, Barbara Morgan, center, and Commander Scott Kelly talk with media from space Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA TV)
In this image from NASA television, space shuttle Endeavour astronauts Tracy Caldwell, left, Barbara Morgan, center, and Commander Scott Kelly talk with media from space Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA...   (Associated Press)
In this image from NASA TV mission specialist Tracy Caldwell waves at the camera on board the aft flight deck of the space shuttle Endeavour, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007. Caldwell celebrated her 38th birthday while in space. In the background is commander Scott Kelly. (AP Photo/NASA TV)
In this image from NASA TV mission specialist Tracy Caldwell waves at the camera on board the aft flight deck of the space shuttle Endeavour, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007. Caldwell celebrated her 38th birthday...   (Associated Press)
This image provided by NASA shows the Space Shuttle Endeavour's orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods and vertical stabilizer backdropped by the blackness of space in this image photographed by a crewmember while docked with the International Space Station during STS-118 flight day six activities Monday Aug. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA)
This image provided by NASA shows the Space Shuttle Endeavour's orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods and vertical stabilizer backdropped by the blackness of space in this image photographed by a crewmember...   (Associated Press)
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NASA • space shuttle • International Space Station • Barbara Morgan • Endeavour • repair

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