Bush Hails Shuttle Launch, Still Eyes Mars Destination

SPACE TRAVEL

US President George W. Bush watches 26 July 2005, the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery in the Oval Office's private dining room, at the White House in Washington,DC. Discovery blasted off, taking seven astronauts on the first US shuttle mission since the Columbia disaster in 2003 that forced a complete rethink of the US space program. It lifted off from its seaside Florida launching pad in a thunderous blast of smoke and fire, and arced through partly cloudy skies, leaving a huge trail of condensation.

Washington (AFP) Jul 26, 2005
US President George W. Bush on Tuesday hailed the successful launch of the space shuttle Discovery and described it as a key step towards one day landing a manned mission on Mars.

"Our space program is a source of great national pride, and this flight is an essential step toward our goal of continuing to lead the world in space science, human space flight, and space exploration," Bush said in a statement.

Asked whether the president still believed in eventually sending a crew to Mars, spokesman Scott McClellan said that was the "long-term mission" and "today's launch is an important first step to put us back on track."

Bush used a January 2004 speech to unveil ambitious plans to build a base on the Moon as a jumping-off point for Mars -- but has barely mentioned that initiative since.

McClellan told reporters that Bush had applauded after watching Discovery lift off from its launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on television in his private dining room off the Oval Office.

"On behalf of all Americans, I wish the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery a safe and successful mission. Today's launch marks NASA's return to flight following the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia crew in February 2003," Bush said in his statement.

Discovery, carrying seven astronauts, reached orbit eight minutes and 40 seconds after liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center.

Two minutes after launch, Discovery's two solid fuel rocket boosters separated from the main orbiter, which also jettisoned its external fuel tank when it reached orbit, in what the US space agency called a picture-perfect start to the mission.

NASA managers heaved a sigh of relief at the successful launch that marks the first manned US space flight since the shuttle fleet was grounded after the Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003. A scheduled launch on July 13 was scrubbed because of a faulty fuel level sensor.

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SPACE TRAVEL

A Trip to Mars Needs Waste

Chicago IL (SPX) Jul 21, 2005
On the long space trip from Earth to Mars "the crew won't be able to get by with a bag lunch and Portapotty," says Arthur Teixeira, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Florida. Teixeira presented a plan for how NASA could deal with waste deposal during such a voyage at this week's Institute of Food Technologists annual meeting.