NASA defends possible shuttle safety rule waiver

[wolverine]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - NASA is prepared to waive a flight safety rule to launch space shuttle Discovery on the first mission since the 2003 Columbia accident if a fuel sensor glitch reoccurs, managers said on Monday.

The malfunction involving one of four hydrogen fuel sensors forced NASA to postpone Discovery's first launch attempt on July 13. For its second liftoff attempt on Tuesday, NASA is considering changing the rule that all four sensors must be working.

"Anytime you talk about changing a launch (rule), that is a big deal," said Stephanie Stilson, vehicle manager for the shuttle Discovery.

"It's huge. That is not something we would go into lightly, as we should not," Stilson said in an interview.

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I don't know who is sillier - NASA, or the astronauts for even considering going ahead with this.

It's like they said after Challenger in '86 - NASA: Need Another Seven Astronauts.