August 14, 2007

Sciencedude: OC’s Caldwell turns 38 today in space

Gary Robbins

Cal State Fullerton grad Tracy Caldwell turns 38 today aboard the space shuttle Endeavour in what’s turning out to be a troubled mission.

Florida Today reports that NASA may have to postpone the two remaining shuttle flights scheduled for later this year because Endeavour and Atlantis were both damaged during launch by foam flying off their external fuel tanks.

The space agency is expected to decide on Wednesday whether Endeavour crew members will have to patch up a 3.5 inch divot that appeared in its heat shield during launch.

“The possibility of another redesign of the external tank’s foam jeopardizes NASA’s ability to launch two more shuttle missions this year and, ultimately, its goal of completing the International Space Station before the shuttle program’s 2010 retirement,” the newspaper reports it today’s editions.

The news of the possible postponements arose on Wednesday, about the time Caldwell was coordinating the work of two spacewalkers from inside Endeavour. Astroanuts Dave Williams and Rick Mastracchio replaced a key gyroscope aboard the International Space Station.

Endeavour is currently docked with space station, and will remain so until Aug. 20, when it’s scheduled to begin the journey back to Earth.