Shuttle News 1997-2003

1999

By Keith Cowing

NASA Watch

December 31, 1999

17 December 1999: Protocol 2A.X Contingency Meeting (complete text with attachments)

“The parties met on Dec 13 through 17 to discuss the possibility of a contingency mission to ISS to repair the FGB and to extend its on orbit life in the event of a further delay of the SM launch date. RSC-E was represented by L. Gorshkov, NASA by K. Reiley, and KhSC by A. Mikhailov. The following items were discussed.

The parties agreed to begin the development of a contingency mission labeled 2A.2A to protect for the possibility of a further delay of SM launch. It was agreed that if the SM launch is delayed to May or later, then an additional mission (2A.2A) will be planned for March 16. The purpose of this mission will be to repair equipment on the FGB, take measures to extend its’ service life to Dec. 2000, and to perform activities planned for the original 2A.2 mission in that general order of priority. After SM launches, a revised 2A.2 mission will be flown. This launch will be scheduled for no earlier than July 8 and will be designated 2A.2B. A preliminary listing of tasks for the 2A.2A is enclosed in attachment 1.”

4 January 2000: Space Shuttle Launch Schedule for 2000 ISS Missions Under Review, SpaceRef

NASA issued a Space Shuttle Status Report today that lists the following target dates for the next 3 Space Shuttle Missions:

° STS-99 – Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM): No earlier than 31 Jan 2000
° STS-101 – 3rd ISS Flight (2A.2) – SPACEHAB DM: No earlier than 16 Mar 2000
° STS-92 – 4th ISS Flight (3A) – Z-1 Truss, PMA-3: No earlier than 14 Jun 2000

NASA is currently considering the addition of a new logistics mission to the ISS – one that would re-use both the same Space Shuttle and the same crew.

Full story…

22 November 1999: New delay for shuttle launch, MSNBC

” If launch delays continue to mount, NASA would face factors that could push the servicing flight into the year 2000: the Christmas holiday plus the Year 2000 computer changeover.”

22 November 1999: Hubble Repair Mission Delayed Again, AP, Yahoo

“NASA’s repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope has been
delayed again, this time by three days because of more damaged wiring found aboard space shuttle Discovery. Shuttle managers today set a new launch date of Dec. 9.”

19 November 1999: Discovery damage not thought to be serious; pad fix possible, Florida Today

“NASA has found more damaged electrical wires on shuttle Discovery, officials said Thursday, prompting new inspections on the ship as work continues toward a Dec. 6 launch to the Hubble Space Telescope. “

18 November 1999: More Shuttle Wiring Problems Found, AP, Yahoo

“Because the inspections are ongoing, it’s too soon to know whether any repairs would delay the Dec. 6 launch, said NASA spokesman Joel Wells”

16 November 1999: Hubble shuts its eyes, BBC

15 November 1999: Hubble Telescope Placed Into Safe Hold As Gyroscope Fails, NASA press release

“The safe mode does not require gyros, so even if another gyro should fail in the next few weeks, HST will remain safe, according to project managers. The aperture
door has been closed to protect the optics, and the spacecraft is aligned to the sun to ensure adequate power is received by Hubble’s solar panels.”

15 November 1999: Hubble failure shuts down the science Telescope in ‘safe mode’; gyroscopes must be fixed, Reuters, MSNBC

10 November 1999:SPACE Shuttle Disocvery set to rollout to launch pad 39B Nov. 13 , NASA KSC press release

“Towering atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler transporter, Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to emerge from the Vehicle Assembly Building at about 2 a.m. this Saturday. Discovery is expected to arrive at Launch Pad 39B by 8 a.m. to undergo final preparations for the STS-103 launch, targeted for Dec. 6.”

9 November 1999: Second Shuttle Wiring Problem Found, AP, Yahoo

“NASA said today it’s still aiming for a Dec. 6 launch of space shuttle Discovery to the Hubble Space Telescope, despite another wiring problem found on the ship.”

8 November 1999: Discovery’s rollout to launch pad delayed, Florida Today

“During the routine shuttle interface test on Monday, engineers in the firing room noted that a so-called cross-strap cable was not working properly. The cable runs from one solid rocket booster forward attach fitting, through the external tank and to the booster on the opposite side. “

8 November 1999: USA Names McCulley Chief Operating Officer, PR Newswire, Yahoo

5 November 1999: New Shuttle manifest from the JPCRB

Based upon presentations at the JPCRB today this is the latest view of an adjusted Space Shuttle manifest:

STS-99 – SRTM – 13 Jan 2000
STS-101 – 2A.2 – 16 Mar 2000 [See Note 1]
STS-92 – 3A – 21 Jun 2000 [See Note 2]
STS-97 – 4A – 20 Jul 2000 [See Note 2]
STS-98 – 5A – 19 Aug 2000
STS-102 – 5A.1 – 19 Oct 2000
STS-100 – 6A – 30 Nov 2000
STS-107 – Research – 11 Jan 2001
STS-104 – 7A – 8 Feb 2001
STS-105 – 7A.1 – 8 Mar 2001
STS-106 – UF-1 – 19 Apr 2001
STS-108 – HST SM3B – 24 May 2001
STS-109 – 8A – 21 Jun 2001
STS-110 – UF-2 – 16 Aug 2001

Note 1. This morning’s Tass announcement of Service Module launch slip to February should not affect this schedule as the possibility of a February launch was included in these calculations.

Note 2. 5 weeks are required between 3A and 4A to relocate the ICBC. This schedule only shows 4 weeks. As such, work is underway to to move 3A up to a target date of 14 June 2000. If this schedule can be made to work a formal CR should be submitted and reviwed by the JPCRB soon.

3 November 1999: New Delay For U.S. Shuttle Mission To Hubble, Reuters, Yahoo

4 November 1999: More Shuttle manifest changes ahead?

Editor’s note: Just as it seemed that a new Shuttle launch manifest was ready to be baselined, yet another schedule is already in the works (a “Plan B”) – one wherein launch dates might slip even further. Word has it that baselining the proposed modifications to the Space Shuttle launch manifest is a bit further away than the next JPRCB. It seems that options will be presented at the JPCRB – but only as a pitch. Whatever the JPRCB accepts ( i.e. plan A, B, or something else) will drive the development of a formal CR (Change Request) that will be submitted – and considered – at a later date.

1 November 1999: Preview of revised Shuttle manifest

The following is supposed to go to the JPRCB on Friday. Once again, there is
speculation that the meeting may be postponed, again.

STS-103 – HST – 2 Dec 1999
STS-99 – SRTM – 13 Jan 2000
STS-101 – 2A.2 – 16 Mar2000
STS-92 – 3A – 18 May 2000
STS-97 – 4A – 22 Jun 2000
STS-98 – 5A – 20 Jul 2000
STS-102 – 5A.1– 21 Sep 2000
STS-100 – 6A – 19 Oct 2000
STS-104 – 7A – 30 Nov 2000

2 November 1999: Children come out to show their support for VentureStar at ISBA.

Editor’s note: I had expected to hear Secretary of State Albright and NASA Administrator Goldin speak at ISBA tonight. They did not show up. Instead, someone who works well down the totem pole from Albright at the State Department (the “Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State”) presented a rather innocuous and dry speech.

The program was apparently altered to include some “entertainment” to fill the gap left in the program. It was filled with what can only be described as a children’s chorus lauding the potential of Lockheed Martin’s VentureStar.

29 October 1999: Four Photos of the damage done to Space Shuttle Atlantis

NASA Watch Note: These four photos (in low and higher resolution formats) document the damage done to Atlantis earlier this week at NASA KSC. The damage was done to Flipper door #4 and #12 on left outboard and right inboard over the actuators. The flipper doors have been temporarily closed with the push/pull rods disconnected and taped to the door. The rods caught on the structure during movement thus damaging the rods, rocker arms, and structure.

31 October 1999: More Adjustments to Shuttle Schedule, SpaceViews

“A shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) once planned for early December has now been delayed to at least mid March, NASA shuttle managers reported late Friday, October 29.”

30 October 1999: Damage to shuttle Atlantis not serious; Discovery preparations continue, Florida Today

“Technicians accidentally damaged wing flaps on shuttle Atlantis last week while preparing the ship for a March flight, NASA officials said Friday.

Repairing the damage will not delay the ship’s targeted March 16 launch on a mission to carry supplies to the International Space Station, said Joel Wells, Kennedy Space Center spokesman. “

27 October 1999: “Space Transportation Architecture Studies: The Future of Earth-to-Orbit Spaceflight”, hearing before the House Science Committee’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics

27 October 1999: Hearing Summary by Keith Cowing, Editor, NASA Watch

Editor’s note: it would seem that after 5 years of studying this issue, NASA is still 5 years away from meeting the goal set for the end of 1999 i.e. ” government and private sector decisions by the end of this decade on development of an operational, next-generation reusable launch system”.

27 October 1999: [Opening Statement] Chairman Dana Rohrabacher, Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics

“The more we can allow decisions to be made by businesspeople investing private dollars to address public and private needs, the more competitive and prosperous America’s space transportation industry will be. And that way, when someone comes in to lobby us on their latest rocketship proposal, our response can be: “show me the money.”

Witnesses:

[Testimony] Dr. Daniel Mulville, Chief Engineer and Chairman Space Transportation
Council, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
[Testimony] Mr. Rick Stephens, Vice President and General Manager, Reusable Space
Systems, Boeing Space & Communications
[Testimony] Mr. Michael Coats, Vice President, Reusable Transportation Systems, Lockheed Martin Astronautics
[Testimony] Dr. Michael Griffin, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer,
Orbital Sciences Corporation
[Testimony] Dr. Tom Rogers, Chairman, Sophron Foundation

Space Transportation Architecture Study (STAS), Chief Engineer’s Office, NASA HQ

21 October 1999:
“Safety and Performance Upgrades to NASA’s Space Shuttle”, Hearing before the House Subcommittee on Space & Aeronautics

Hearing Charter

Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Place: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2318

Witnesses:

Testimony

Byron K. Wood

Andy Allen

Testimony

William F. Readdy

Stephen A. Book

“Upgrading the Space Shuttle”, Report by the Committee on Space Shuttle Upgrades, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, National Research Council

Editor’s note: This 1999 report resulted from a request by NASA to examine the agency’s plans for further upgrades to the space shuttle system. The NRC was asked to assess NASA’s method for evaluating and selecting upgrades and to conduct a top-level technical assessment of proposed upgrades.

7 October 1999: NASA Pushes Back Hubble Shuttle Mission To December, Reuters, Excite

7 October 1999: Target launch dates set: KSC Space Shuttle Status Report

“With wiring inspections and repairs of Discovery and Endeavour nearing
completion and similar work beginning on Atlantis, Shuttle program managers
today set new planning target launch dates for the next three Space Shuttle
missions. Based on an assessment of the work remaining on Discovery and Endeavour and the inspections which have begun on Atlantis, managers set the following as
target launch dates for upcoming flights:

Dec. 2, 1999: STS-103/Discovery, Hubble Space Telescope Servicing-3A

January 13, 2000: STS-99/EndeavourShuttle, Radar Topography Mission

(no earlier than) February 10, 2000: STS-101/Atlantis, ISS Logistics/Assembly Flight 2A.2

“Our number one priority for the Space Shuttle is to fly safely, and that is
why we delayed our launch preparations and have performed comprehensive
wiring inspections and repairs,” Space Shuttle Program Manager Ron Dittemore
said. “As a result of our inspections, we’ve made significant changes in how
we protect electrical wiring. We believe those changes, along with changes
to the work platforms and procedures we use in the Shuttle’s payload bay,
will prevent similar wire damage from recurring,” Dittemore added.”

24 September 1999: Culbertson and Parazynski lend expertise to space station crews, NASA Press release

“Frank L. Culbertson, who has been leading NASA’s efforts in
the Shuttle-Mir program and the International Space Station, will
return to space to command the third crew to live and work aboard
the space station … Culbertson replaces astronaut Ken Bowersox, a U.S. Navy
captain, who continues to train as commander of the back-up crew
for the first expedition mission in early 2000. Culbertson joins
Russian Space Agency cosmonauts Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail
Turin, who were previously named to the flight.”

“In another mission assignment, Scott Parazynski will join the
crew of STS-100, the eighth American flight to continue
construction of the space station, currently scheduled for mid-
2000. He replaces astronaut Robert Curbeam, a U.S. Navy
lieutenant commander, who will fly aboard STS-98 in early 2000.”

Editor’s note: Ken Bowersox reportedly asked to be removed from his assignment to the Expedition 3 crew for personal reasons. Robert Curbeam was moved off of STS-100 to replace Mark Lee who was dumped from STS-98 by George Abbey. NASA PAO, of course, doesn’t bother to inform you of either fact anywhere in this press release. Instead, they expect you to now believe that:

“The reassignment resulted from changes in the mission
requirements for the two crews. The initial mission requirements,
particularly with the U.S.-provided airlock module, have evolved
considerably since the initial flight assignments were made. “

Earlier stories on Mark Lee’s plight can be found on our Shuttle News page.

24 September 1999: “Space Shuttle Safety”, Hearings before the House Science Committee’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, 23 September 1999.
Summary by Keith Cowing, Editor, NASA Watch

24 September 1999: NASA hasn’t figured out cost of grounding shuttle fleet, lawmakers told, Florida Today

“United Space Alliance, the private aerospace consortium maintaining the reusable space planes, will not receive an estimated $2.5 million payment it would have otherwise earned for the on-time delivery of an orbiter for the next scheduled shuttle launch, said Michael McCulley, vice president and deputy program manager for the consortium.”

23 September 1999:

Hearing Charter

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, Chairman, Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. [prepared statement]

Rep. Dave Weldon FL-15, [prepared statement]

Witnesses:

Mr. Michael J. McCulley

[prepared statement]

Mr. Frederick D. Gregory

[prepared statement]

Mr. William F. Readdy

[prepared statement]

21 September 1999: NASA team to review shuttle work procedures in wake of wiring problems, Florida Today

“NASA on Monday launched an investigation into the way maintenance work
is done on its space shuttle fleet, a move prompted by the discovery of damaged electrical wiring on all four vehicles. “

20 September 1999: NASA forms new panel to review shuttle safety, CNN

“Henry McDonald, director of NASA Ames Research Center in California, will chair the shuttle safety team. Other panelists will be named later this week.”

20 September 1999: NASA forms independent industry-government team to review Shuttle maintenance and refurbishment practices, NASA press release

“Following the recent discovery of maintenance-related damage to electrical wiring in the Space Shuttle, NASA is forming a team of leading aerospace experts to review the overall safety of shuttle maintenance and refurbishment practices.”

7 September 1999: Minutes of Senior Staff and Center Directors’ Meeting, NASA HQ

M/Rothenberg: Mr. Rothenberg reported on the following items: 1) Dr. Henry McDonald will lead an Independent Technical Team to review the Space Shuttle systems and maintenance practices. The Team will be comprised of NASA, contractor, and DOD technical personnel and will look at NASA practices, Shuttle anomalies, and civilian and military experience. The Team will recommend additions, changes, and deletions to Shuttle practices and is expected to complete its review by the third week in October.”

Editor’s note: Why did PAO wait two weeks to announce this – and then do so only a few days before a Congressional hearing on (guess what) Space Shuttle safety? This link was posted on NASA Watch last week.

17 September 1999: Chief Operating Officer to Leave United Space Alliance, PR Newswire, Yahoo

“United Space Alliance Chief Operating Officer Jim Adamson announced
that, effective October 6, 1999, he will be leaving USA to join AlliedSignal Inc. as president of AlliedSignal Technical Services Corporation in Columbia, Maryland.”

17 September 1999: NASA refuses to reinstate astronaut to spring flight, Houston Chronicle

“Astronaut Mark Lee’s appeal to administrators for reinstatement to a shuttle crew assignment he was bumped from earlier this month has been denied, a NASA spokesman said Friday. “

9 September 1999: NASA Switches Two Shuttle Flights, AP, Yahoo

9 September 1999: KSC revised Shuttle Launch Dates

STS-103:

STS-99:

STS-101:

15 September 1999: Space Shuttles Safe After Hurricane, Ap, Yahoo

14 September 1999: Storm Center, Yahoo

14 September 1999: NASA Unable To Handle Big Storms, AP, Yahoo

“NASA tried to protect its four space shuttles the best it could and then evacuated the Kennedy Space Center, unable to handle storms the size and fury of Hurricane Floyd. The shuttles were in danger from the storm, powerful enough to wipe out NASA’s launch pads and hangars.”

13 September 1999: Floyd Endangering Space Shuttles, AP, Yahoo

“NASA’s four space shuttles were in danger as the agency braced Monday for Hurricane Floyd, a storm powerful enough to wipe out its launch pads and hangars.All of the shuttles are in hangars. But the buildings are designed to withstand wind of no more than 105 mph to 125 mph. Floyd was packing top sustained winds of 155 mph wind as of Monday afternoon.”

10 September 1999: Astronaut reassignment update:

Editor’s note: It now seems that the Ken Bowersox and Mark Lee reassignments are coincidental. Bowersox apparently asked to be taken off of his ISS Expedition mission for reasons having to do with training and operational aspects of the mission itself. Bowersox will remain as a member of the back-up team for Expedition 1 however.

Meanwhile, is seems that Mark Lee may have been bumped from his Space Shuttle mission as the result of an otherwise unrelated dispute with JSC Center Director George Abbey over the development of the “short suit”. Lee has recently been removed as the representative from the Astronaut Office (CB) to the EVA Project Office (XA) at JSC. The short suit is an EVA spacesuit designed to accommodate smaller astronauts better than current designs.

JSC has yet to issue a press release on this topic but has been busy modifying astronaut biographies and other web pages to reflect recent changes.

10 September 1999: Astronaut to appeal removal, Houston Chronicle

“Astronaut Mark Lee said Friday he is appealing NASA’s decision to pull him from a shuttle crew assigned to a space station construction mission next spring.”

9 September 1999: Shuttle astronaut taken off crew for ISS mission, CNN

“After an apparent falling out with NASA brass in Houston, astronaut Mark Lee has been removed from a space shuttle mission to the International Space Station next spring. “

7 September 1999: Astronaut Mark Lee removed from space station assembly mission, Bill Harwood/CBS

“Johnson Space Center Director George Abbey personally ordered the change because of what one source called “conduct unbecoming of an astronaut.”

7 September 1999: Minutes of Senior Staff and Center Directors’ Meeting, NASA HQ

4 September 1999: U.S. space shuttle fleet grounded -NASA, Reuters, Yahoo

4 September 1999: Space Shuttles Virtually Grounded, AP, Yahoo

3 September 1999: 64 cases of wiring problems found on shuttle fleet – Next launch no earlier than mid-October, CNN

“NASA technicians inspecting two orbiters in the space shuttle fleet have found more than two dozen wiring problems like one that caused a potentially life-threatening short circuit on a July shuttle flight. “

3 September 1999: NASA’s Oldest Orbiter Ready for Refurb, space.com

“The $70 million to $80 million upgrade also includes one cosmetic makeover. Columbia will lose its ’70s-era NASA logo, with the letters all connected worm-like, in favor the re-adopted ’60s logo, affectionately referred to as “the meatball.” Eradicating NASA’s worm writing has been a pet project of agency administrator Dan Goldin.”

Check Worm Watch for the sad tale of the worm logo’s demise.

6 September 1999: Space Shuttle Fleet Grounded -NASA, Reuters, Yahoo

4 September 1999: Space Shuttles Virtually Grounded, AP, Yahoo

3 September 1999: 64 cases of wiring problems found on shuttle fleet – Next launch no earlier than mid-October, CNN

2 September 1999: Kennedy Space Center Space Shuttle Status Report, KSC, Florida Today

“Although numerous locations throughout the orbiters have been identified that require additional preventative measures, the number of places identified in each orbiter where wire has required repair includes:

Endeavour — 38
Discovery — 26
Atlantis — full inspections will begin later this month.
Columbia — other than initial inspections associated with the short experienced during STS-93, full wiring inspections will be performed when Columbia arrives at the Boeing North American shuttlefactory in Palmdale, Ca., late this month”

1 September 1999: Kennedy Space Center Space Shuttle Status Report, Florida Today

“Engineers are continuing to analyze a bent freon line associated with
payload bay support equipment for the SRTM payload. The bent line was
reported earlier this month by a technician working on wiring
inspections in that area of Endeavour’s cargo bay. The freon line is
part of a cooling system for some of the SRTM electronics. Although
the bent line has not shown any evidence of a leak, engineers are
evaluating the possibility of either bracing or replacing the line to
prevent further damage that could result from vibrations experienced
at launch.”

24 August 1999: Space Shuttle Schedule in Disarray, AP, Yahoo

24 August 1999: Shuttle Problems Continue–Mission to Space Station Delayed, space.com

23 August 1999: Damaged Wires Found in all Shuttles, space.com

“Any lingering doubts about NASA’s decision to ground the shuttle fleet for
wiring inspections has vanished, with shuttle Endeavour — the orbiter that had its payload removed for inspections — turning up 20 areas of potentially hazardous wiring, including spots that were down to bare wire.”

16 August 1999: Launch Makes Collins More Celebrated, AP, Yahoo

4 August 1999: [email protected]?

Editor’s note: it seems that a number of people at NASA have taken to refering to STS-93 commander Eileen Collins as “Janeway” – as in Katherine Janeway, commander of the starship “Voyager”. The nickname is meant in a most complimentary way for the cool manner with which Collins handled her technically challenging ascent into orbit on STS-93.

13 August 1999:
Another bad wire found in Columbia – 5 new photos

Editors’ note: These 5 photos show a newly-found bad wire on the No.1 engine that flew on Columbia on the STS-93 mission. It (apparently) did not short
out (but came close).

Editor’s note: a correction from [email protected]:

“The 5 new pictures are
not
from the new wire damage found. They are all from the initial find. The
photos with the legend FWD on them are of the segment that actually
shorted to the screw head. The photos with the legend AFT were
discovered at the same time (about 2-3 inches away from the short)
over a screw head on the aft side of the joint that did not short (no
arching noted
on the screw head). The new wire damage was in a different area of the
payload
bay and was thought to be just top coat damage (outside paint). failure
analysis
of that wire reported that two layers were removed due to abrasion
(rubbing).
Based on all the data and the Criticality of the Main Engines, I
strongly believe
NASA made the correct and only possible decision to inspect and protect
these
Power lines going to the Main Engine Controllers prior to flight.”

13 August 1999: Next shuttle mission delayed to inspect wiring, Florida Today

13 August 1999: Next U.S. Shuttle Mission Delayed For Wire Checks, Reuters, Yahoo

12 August 1999: NASA Grounds the Shuttle Fleet for Wire Inspections, space.com

10 August 1999: NASA Delays Shuttle Move for Wire Inspections, space.com

“This screw in the Columbia cargo bay may have rubbed insulation off nearby wires, causing a short circuit and arcing that singed the screw. [photo] courtesy NASA Watch.”

10 August 1999: Exposed wire cited as cause of short circuit aboard Columbia, Florida Today

10 August 1999: Space Station Illnesses Downplayed, AP, Yahoo

10 August 1999: Screw caused Columbia’s short circuit, Orlando Sentinel

9 August 1999: Closeup photos of the short circuit inside Space Shuttle Columbia

Editor’s note: Apparently these photos are a NASA Watch “exclusive”. These 6 photos were taken in the OPF (Orbiter Processing Facility) at NASA KSC shortly after Columbia landed.

22 July 1999: Crew/Cargo Transfer Vehicle
Preliminary Requirements, Space Transportation Architecture Studies
Phase III, NASA Code AE, Office of the Chief Engineer

“The purpose of this document is to establish top-level requirements for the Crew/Cargo Transfer Vehicle (CCTV) for the conduct of associated tasks for Phase III of the NASA Space Transportation Architecture Studies.”

15 February 1999: NASA Looks For Spare Parts – From Alabama Museum, Reuters, Yahoo

“The Marshall Space Flight Center and the United Space Alliance, NASA’s shuttles operations contractor, last week contacted the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and asked it to return
the forward assemblies from the solid rocket boosters on the museum’s full-size shuttle exhibit “for use in the space program,” the Huntsville Times newspaper reported Sunday.”

14 February 1999: NASA ‘repos museum exhibits, Huntsville Times

15 February 1999:
Museum Asked to Return Space Parts, AP, Yahoo

Editor’s note: too bad NASA hasn’t asked for one of those Saturn V ‘s lying around at JSC, KSC, and MSFC ….

13 January 1999: What lies ahead for aging space shuttle?, Orlando Sentinel

12 January 1999:
Upgrading the Shuttle, Committee on Shuttle Upgrades, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, National Research Council