I suspect he will. He has so far. The Columbia Disaster will be the catalyst for a rebirth of a rational space program. It has languished far too long.
One step back and 10 forward. It will bring about a new, perhaps better heat shield. The problem will always be: the ships and the universe are so complex, the accident stats will come "AFTER THE FACTS" not before these awesome exploratory flights.
Think of the many "exploration" ships coming to the shores of America and other countries that are at the bottom of the seas of our universe.
The stats come after.