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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

NASA preparations on time for launch

Los Angeles Times

NASA scientists said Friday that pre-flight safety preparations at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida are progressing on schedule for a May 15 launch of the space shuttle Discovery.

Although the launch window could remain open through at least June 12, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Launch Director Mike Leinbach said at an online news briefing that the May 15 date “feels really good to me.”

The shuttle fleet has been grounded since the 2003 accident that claimed the lives of seven astronauts aboard the shuttle Columbia. After that tragedy, NASA announced it would not return the shuttle to flight without new safeguards for future crews.