Space Shuttle's "Return to Flight"

[Ghoulish Delight]

Ugh, here we go again.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8720825/

All missions have been put on indefinite hold. Not because of the chipped tile, but because of the chunk of foam.

This does not bode well. They spent 2 1/2 years, primarily trying to resolve this exact problem...and here we have a near instant replay. Fortunately this time it seems the variables worked to prevent the kind of damage that doomed the Columbia, but the fact is this really has to be viewed as an abject failure for NASA.

Stupidly, they still seem comitted to these ancient beasts. It would probably take longer to develop a new generation craft, but it would seem to me a better investment of money and time to develop something new that will last another 25 years than duct tape an old design that's showing its age and flaws.