Shuttle Launching Set for Today Despite Broken Foam

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., July 3 — NASA will try to launch the space shuttle Discovery on Tuesday despite having learned on Monday that a small piece of foam had fallen off the external tank, officials said.
We're 'go' to continue with the launch countdown," said William H. Gerstenmaier, the associate administrator for space operations." Liftoff was set for 2:37 p.m.

The small piece of foam insulation, which fell off a bracket that holds a fuel line in place, weighs less than one-tenth of an ounce, about as much as a penny, and would not have caused serious damage to the shuttle if it had fallen off during ascent, said John Shannon, deputy manager of the shuttle program.

Ready to launch? Let's hope so..this time

Blood has shed on 2:38 PM by BiG_kiD