Cape Canaveral: The US space
agency has cleared shuttle Endeavour for lift off on Sunday and
says the launch team is keeping its focus on safety even
though workers are facing uncertainty over the direction of
the space program.
Mission managers gave the launch go-ahead yesterday,
as forecasters offered up an improved forecast. The chance of
good launch weather is now 80 percent for the liftoff, set for
4:39 am EST (0939 GMT).
NASA managers cleared the space shuttle for liftoff
even as they used words like ''angst'' to describe the mood of
the work force at the launching site, days after the
administration of US President Barack Obama announced
changes in NASA's goals.
''Distractions are there. Shock is there. Uncertainty.
But ... I do not worry about the folks'' while they're doing
their job, launch director Mike Leinbach said.
On Monday, Obama ordered a new course for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ditching the
back-to-the-moon program of the previous administration of
President George W. Bush.
Instead, Obama is proposing more research that
could have astronauts heading to the asteroids or Mars, sooner
and cheaper than under the old plan. That's good news for the
future of the International Space Station, which won an
extension until 2020. But it could mean even more layoffs for
the shuttle work force.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, February 06, 2010, 09:50