Shuttle Program Back Up By May 2005

Nasa said that the shuttle program is going back on track and there may even be a launch in May 2005. The mission will be a test of the new measures to ensure that there wont be a repeat of the Feb incident were a RCC panel broke off during re-entry and well you know the rest. What is strange is why so long was there not enough pressure to get the shuttle back up or is it that its going to be decomissioned soon and one of the x crafts will take its place.