NASA releases new shuttle flight plan

[United Press International]

WASHINGTON, April 30 (UPI) -- NASA released a report Friday
on how it intends to return the space shuttle fleet to flight
safely, Space.com reported.
The report said the space agency has scheduled no shuttle
liftoff slated earlier than March 2005 and meanwhile is adopting the
recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. The
recommendations were compiled after the spacecraft disintegrated on
Feb. 1, 2003, killing seven astronauts, when Columbia attempted to
re-enter Earth's atmosphere above the Southwest United States.
When NASA returns the shuttle to flight, it "will be the
safest it has ever been," the report said.
For example, NASA is redesigning the external fuel tank
assembly to eliminate the large foam insulation and replace it with
electric heaters to prevent ice formation. The agency also is
identifying and eliminating other potential sources of critical
ascent debris.
NASA is conducting other tests and analyses to ensure that
the shuttle can withstand potential strikes from "noncritical"
ascent debris, the report said.
For the time being, NASA will launch space shuttle missions
in daylight to maximize the capability to capture images of the
spacecraft "until we fully understand and can mitigate the risk"
that debris poses to the shuttle during liftoff, the report said.