Is NASA Pushing The Envelope On Shuttle Safety?

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Concerns over the safety of the shuttle Discovery before tomorrow's scheduled launch have overshadowed a historic milestone for Nasa - the first simultaneous command of two manned space missions by female astronauts. Retired US Air Force Colonel Pamela Melroy will lead six colleagues on a two-week flight to the orbiting international space station, currently controlled by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson.

But cracks in Discovery's thermal protection shield and a decision by senior Nasa managers to press ahead with the 11.38am (4.38pm BST) lift-off regardless have alarmed some of the agency's leading safety officers, who wanted the mission delayed to carry out possible repairs. more