In a perhaps related issue, some of my well placed space scientist colleagues
say that the quiet word from NASA is to expect something between 1 and 3
years to pass before the next shuttle launch and for operations to be
resumed with a much longer turn around time (to allow for more thorough
testing and refurbishment between flights?).
The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) has announced (with written
approval from NASA) a 5.5 month delay in the deadline for ST observing
proposals and plans to allow revision of said proposals (to keep them
scientifically up to date) up until approximately one year before ST launch.
ST has been declared the highest priority shuttle scientific payload for
launch after resumption of operations.
Ed Turner
astrovax!elt