Nasa goes ahead with Discovery launch despite foam damage
Ap, Cape Canaveral
Nasa managers hoped to make Discovery the most inspiring sight in the nation's skies yesterday as the space agency prepared for the first Fourth of July launch in history. The launch attempt came after meetings Monday where Nasa managers pondered whether a 5-inch long crack in the external fuel tank's foam, which caused a 3-inch piece of foam to pop out on the launch pad, posed a threat to the shuttle during liftoff. The patch of foam fell off an area that covers an expandable bracket holding a liquid oxygen feed line against the huge external tank. Nasa engineers believe ice built up in that area from condensation caused by rain Sunday.
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