[GovernmentShrinker]

The tiles can NOT be repaired in space. This Melton guy (a Penn State professor) doesn't have a clue. Ron Dittemore (director of NASA's space shuttle program) said about 10 times on the press conference this afternoon that no way, no how can the tiles be repaired or replaced after the shuttle is in space. In fact, he said they can't even inspect them while they're up there, which is why NASA had no information about whether any tiles had been damaged by the debris which hit the wing on take-off.

[ironman]

"These tiles can be repaired in space"

I think the author of the aritcle left out the words "can not."

[The Westerner]

"In fact, he said they can't even inspect them while they're up there, which is why NASA had no information about whether any tiles had been damaged by the debris which hit the wing on take-off."

This doesn't make sense. When the astronauts go outside for spacewalks, couldn't they inspect the tiles?