Shuttle might go without some upgrades: NASA chief

[Guest Glenn]

Source: Reuters

 

April 19, 2005

 

NEW NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said today he might consider letting the space shuttle return to flight even if an independent panel has not finally approved some safety improvements.

 

Griffin, a rocket scientist who was confirmed by Congress last week to head the US space agency, said NASA's managers will have the final say on whether the shuttle Discovery lifts off during its scheduled launch window from May 15 to June 3.

 

Asked at his first news conference if he would allow Discovery to fly despite some reservations by the independent Stafford-Covey Commission, which monitors NASA progress on safety recommendations after the Columbia disaster, Griffin replied, "In concept, yes I would".

 

"I cannot begin at this time to say under what specific conditions that NASA might elect to go ahead with the launch, given a disparity of opinion between various interested parties as to whether we should or shouldn't," Griffin said.

 

The answer will depend on technical details, and NASA managers will have the final say, he said.

 

"Advisory groups advise. We need to take our advice very seriously . . ." Griffin said. "But at the end of the day, the people wearing government and contractor badges charged with launching the vehicle will be the ones who are responsible and accountable for their actions."

 

The Stafford-Covey panel's charter is to assess NASA's fulfillment of 15 recommendations made by Columbia investigators for the safe return to shuttle flight. Final clearance on eight recommendations is pending.

 

The panel's final evaluation, scheduled for late March, was postponed because members wanted more information from NASA.

 

The return to flight of the shuttle fleet, grounded since Columbia's mid-air disintegration on February 1, 2003, is Griffin's top priority.

 

After the first successful shuttle flight, he said he would consider reinstating a shuttle mission to repair and upgrade the aging but popular Hubble Space Telescope, which under current NASA plans would be allowed to degrade in orbit until being brought down to Earth.