Mercury Retrograde in 2006

Retrograde 1 Leo July 4 2006

Direct   21 Cancer July 29 2006

Out of Shadow 1 Leo August 12 2006

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Retrograde 25 Scorpio October 28 2006

Direct   9 Scorpio November 18 2006

Out of Shadow 25 Scorpio December 4 2006

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Eclipses

Lunar Partial 15 Pisces September 7 2006

Solar Penumbral 29 Virgo September 22 2006

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NASA Sets July 1 for Launch Of Shuttle

Some Managers Wanted to Wait

Associated Press
Sunday, June 18, 2006; Page A04

CAPE CANAVERAL, June 17 -- NASA managers on Saturday picked July 1 to launch a space shuttle for the first time in almost a year, despite recommendations against a liftoff by the space agency's chief engineer and safety offices.

Discovery will fly to the international space station.

During a poll of top managers meeting at Kennedy Space Center, representatives from NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance and Office of the Chief Engineer recommended against flying until more design changes are made to the external fuel tank. Despite their recommendations, the dissenting managers did not object to making a launch, NASA officials said, and the final decision was made by NASA Administrator Michael D. Griffin.

The most contentious debate focused on whether the shuttle's external tank should undergo further changes in 34 areas called ice-frost ramps. About 35 pounds of foam have already been removed from an area of the tank where a 1-pound piece fell off during last July's launch of Discovery.

Representatives from NASA's safety and chief engineer offices said at the meeting that the shuttle should not fly until the ice-frost ramps are redesigned. A large piece of foam from the external tank struck a wing of Columbia during its launch in 2003, allowing fiery gases to enter the shuttle and kill the seven-member crew during descent.

Griffin said the decision to fly poses no risk to Discovery's seven astronauts because NASA has devised new inspection and repair techniques for the shuttle, and as a last resort the astronauts could stay at the international space station until a rescue shuttle arrives.

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Dr. Michael Douglas Griffin (born November 1, 1949 in Aberdeen, Maryland) is the current NASA Administrator. As the chief of America's space agency, Dr. Griffin is responsible for such areas as the future of human spaceflight and the fate of the Hubble telescope.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin