World News Discovery launches successfully

フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — After two weather delays and last-minute foam trouble, space shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven blasted off July 4.

The launch on Independence Day went ahead despite objections from those within NASA who argued for more fuel-tank repairs

Discovery was only the second shuttle flight since Columbia was brought down 31/2 years ago by a chunk of insulation foam breaking off the fuel tank.

The foam problem resurfaced during last July's flight of Discovery and again this time, keeping the space agency debating safety all the way up to the eve of liftoff.

A slice of foam, no bigger than a crust of bread, had fallen off the Discovery's external fuel tank following July 2's delay

Shuttle managers decided after intensive engineering analysis that the remaining foam on that part of the tank was solid.

The mission for Discovery's crew is to test shuttle-inspection techniques, deliver supplies to the international space station and drop off European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter for a six-month stay at the space station.

ディスカバリー、無事打ち上げ

アメリカのスペースシャトル「ディスカバリー」が4日、打ち上げられた。

Shukan ST: July 14, 2006

(C) All rights reserved