If the fact that the shuttle continues to have debris rain from it is not enough to convince you of the need for a new spacecraft (one is in development) and to scrap the shuttle ASAP, read how they plan to repair the bottom of the spacecraft:
(By PAM EASTON, Associated Press Writer)
NASA says the protruding material on Discovery's belly could cause dangerous overheating during re-entry and lead to another Columbia-type disaster.
The agency planned to put astronaut Stephen Robinson on the end of the space station's 58-foot robotic arm Wednesday for the improvised maneuver. Astronauts inside the station will maneuver the arm so Robinson can reach the shuttle's belly. Once there, he'll tug out the ceramic-fabric filler with his gloved hands.
If that doesn't work, he'll use a makeshift hacksaw to cut away the material, which is sticking out about an inch from two spots near Discovery's nose. The saw was improvised out of a blade, plastic ties, duct tape, Velcro and other items aboard the space station. "I am pretty comfortable with using tools very carefully," Robinson said early Tuesday during a crew news conference. "But no doubt about it, this is going to be a very delicate task. But as I say, a simple one." The protruding bits of gap filler are small — one is about the thickness of an index card and the other is the size of three index cards bonded together.
"There won't be any yanking going on at all," Robinson said. "It will be a gentle pull with my hand. If that doesn't work, I have some forceps. I will give it a slightly more than gentle pull. If that doesn't work, I saw it off with a hacksaw."
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