Ummm....something tells me NASA missed something
 

Well, so much for improved safety of the shuttle program.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050712/D8BA49000.html

"With the countdown for Discovery in its final hours, NASA was dealt a setback Tuesday when a window cover fell off the shuttle and damaged thermal tiles near the tail.

....


No workers were nearby when the window cover fell off and dropped about 60 feet, the space agency said. It was not immediately clear why the cover - which was held by tape - came loose."

It was held on by friggin' tape?!?!?!?!?! They don't know why a flippin' window cover fell off when held by tape!?!?!?!?! Good Lord - it's a rocket!

Yikes! Normally I'm a big NASA fan, and understand the risks invovled for astronauts, but that is ridiculous.

We're obviously dealing with an inferior adhesive.

This is something that would happen in my house, not to a NASA Rocket!

Are you saying my shuttle isn't flight-worthy?

They don't make it very clear, but from what it says, I'd say this is a window cover that gets removed before launch. I think it's just to protect the windows from damage during set up. Hence the tape.