Is re-flying Shuttles and the larger cargo capacity critical to the future of the Station?
Yes, without a doubt. We need the Space Shuttles to continue with the International Space Station. If we want to, if we want the International Space Station to do the original mission, which is scientific research on orbit, we must have the Shuttles to, to complete that objective. Well, let’s talk about some of the big steps in the flight. In the very first few hours you’re going to be confirming some aspects of the redesign of the external tank. Tell me a little bit about what’s involved in getting the data back to the ground from all the old and new cameras that you have, as well as a new set of sensors built into the wing leading edges. Right after main engine cutoff, right after the ascent, we’re going to pitch the orbiter around, take photographs of the external tank before it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere.We’ll be taking actually digital photographs as well as video. Both of those cameras have the ability to downlink that data; we will do that before we go to bed on Flight Day
