July 12, 2005 NASA
Prepares for First Shuttle Launch Since Columbia Disaster
Spencer Michels of the NewsHour's Science Unit looks at
the safety improvements made to the space shuttle program
since Columbia broke apart while trying to re-enter the
Earth's atmosphere on Feb. 1, 2003.
Interactive: Shuttle Upgrades When
Discovery launches, it will incorporate numerous new safety features, including
heaters on the external fuel tank meant to keep ice from forming and possibly
falling onto the orbiter. See some of the main safety upgrades.
Slide Show: Evolution of Spaceflight The
beeping from Russia's Sputnik satellite launched a space race between the Soviet
Union and United States that ended when Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon. See
how manned spaceflight has evolved over the years.
