Is there a problem with Discovery or what? What's going on? Nice of the families down here to have to sit and listen to all this talking. Was the shuttle damaged on takeoff or not? Are our astronauts in trouble or what? Wish someone would just say what is going on.
NASA is determining whether any debris that came off the external fule tank damaged Discovery's heat shield. This is what doomed Columbia. So far they think Discovery is okay and that none of the large pieces struck the heat shield. However, until they can come up with an improved external tank, they do not want to take a chance with Atlantis or Endeavor.
How about a second ANsari X prize. The goal will be a privately funded craft (with crew) to make a round trip to the ISS.
There are several threads. One should be coming by any minute.