Space Forum / Shuttle / August 2005

from "www.wwl.com" website ....

KATRINA DELAYS NASA WORK

The space shuttle's external fuel tanks were supposed to be shipped back
to New Orleans this week, from Kennedy Space Center, but that has been
put on hold, thanks to Katrina.

NASA has grounded the shuttle fleet until Michoud workers solve the
problem of foam insulation peeling away from the external fuel tank
during liftoff. That is what led to Columbia's destruction, and the
people at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in eastern New Orleans are
eager to get back to work on the tanks.

“It is expected that we will remove what is called the ‘protuberance
air-load ramps’ from the external tank and dissect them to gather more
data,” says spokesman Marion LaNasa.

LaNasa says they will develop a plan to go forward once they get that
information, but first they have to get those tanks barged back to New
Orleans.