BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The risk posture is acceptable for Discovery to be launched as planned in July, which means the first possible shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster in 2003.

NASA officials said Friday the risk from falling ice damage is low enough to allow Discovery to be launched as planned in July, marking the first shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster in 2003. Photo: Xinhua)

    "At the end of the day, the recommendation from the board was the that we were in an acceptable risk posture," said Shuttle Program Manager Bill Parsons on Friday in a post-meeting teleconference with reporters. "They recommended to me ... that we proceed on with the launch. I accepted that recommendation. And that's where we are headed now."

    The conclusion came after a day-long meeting at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, at which NASA managers and engineers reviewed analysis of the potential damage to shuttle by falling ice from the shuttle's external fuel tank on liftoff.

    No date has been set for the possible lanch. NASA has an opportunity from July 13 to July 31 to conduct a daytime launch on a rendezvous trajectory with the space station. If Discovery does not launch during that window, shuttle managers would have to wait until September 9 for acceptable lighting conditions to return.

    Successful resolution of the ice issue is regarded as the last big hurdle the shuttle program needs to clear before NASA Administrator Michael Griffin gives the go-ahead for the return of the space shuttle fleet to service.

    In April, NASA found ice breaking off the fuel tank on liftoff could do more harm than foam if it smacked into the shuttle.

    Safety concerns delayed the shuttle launch from mid-May to July. To prevent ice buildup, the shuttle has been installed with a heater on the tank.

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    On Wednesday and Thursday, senior NASA officials and shuttle program managers will meet at the Kennedy Space Center for a "Flight Readiness Review," and any lingering issues related to the Discovery launch will be aired and an official launch date will be set.

    NASA has committed to daytime launches for the next two shuttle missions in order to ensure ideal lighting conditions for the cameras that will scrutinize the shuttle's ascent into orbit. Enditem

    (Agencies)