THE SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY ASTRONAUTS WERE HOPING SUNDAY TO GET SOME HAPPY NEWS: IT IS SAFE TO FLY HOME, AP REPORTED. NASA MISSION MANAGERS BACK ON EARTH WERE EXPECTED TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON ON WHETHER TO GIVE THE SPACE SHUTTLE'S HEAT SHIELD AN OFFICIAL CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, ALLOWING THE SIX CREW MEMBERS TO RETURN TO EARTH ON JULY 17. ONLY ONE HEAT SHIELD PROBLEM REMAINED _ A PIECE OF FABRIC FILLER STICKING OUT FROM THERMAL TILES ON DISCOVERY'S BELLY _ AND ENGINEERS WERE LEANING AGAINST ASKING ASTRONAUTS TO PLUCK IT OUT DURING A SPACEWALK ON WEDNESDAY. OFFICIALS HAD ALREADY DECIDED THAT SEVERAL OTHER NICKS AND SPOTS _ RANGING FROM BIRD DROPPINGS TO FRAYED FABRIC _ WERE NO BIG DEAL. «WE'RE MOTIVATED TO KNOW THAT OUR VEHICLE'S CLEAN SO THAT WE CAN COME IN AND ENTER» EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE SAFELY, COMMANDER STEVE LINDSEY SAID AT A MIDDAY NEWS CONFERENCE. «WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HEAR THOSE WORDS.» «TO GET A CLEAN VICTORY OR A WIN IS REALLY EXCITING,» LINDSEY SAID. FLIGHT DIRECTOR TONY CECCACCI SAID THE ASTRONAUTS WILL BE NOTIFIED AS SOON AS THE MISSION MANAGERS GIVE THE ALL-CLEAR FOR DISCOVERY'S RETURN. THE CRACKED GAP FILLER MEASURES 2 INCHES (5 CENTIMETERS) LONG AND STICKS ABOUT AN INCH (2.5 CENTIMETERS) OUT OF THE THERMAL TILES, WITH THE WORRY BEING THAT IT COULD ALLOW HEAT INTO THE SHUTTLE'S BELLY DURING DISCOVERY'S SEARING RETURN TO EARTH. SANDWICHED BETWEEN AN UNUSAL SPACEWALK SATURDAY AND A CRUCIAL BUT MORE ROUTINE SPACEWALK MONDAY, DISCOVERY'S CREW HAD AN EASY DAY SUNDAY, SAID PILOT MARK KELLY. THEY WERE SCHEDULED TO WORK ONLY 15 HOURS, INSTEAD OF 16 HOURS. «TODAY HAS BEEN A RELATIVELY LIGHT DAY COMPARED TO THE OTHERS,» KELLY SAID IN THE NEWS CONFERENCE. THOSE FIRST FIVE DAYS OF THE MISSION WERE SO BUSY «WE HAD TO TAKE OUR MEALS ON THE RUN,» LINDSEY SAID. SATURDAY'S SPACEWALK, DURING WHICH ASTRONAUTS PIERS SELLERS AND MICHAEL FOSSUM STOOD ON THE END OF 100 FEET (30 METERS) OF SOMETIMES-OSCILLATING SHUTTLE ROBOTIC ARM AND EXTENSION BOOM, PROVED THAT EMERGENCY SHUTTLE REPAIR WORK CAN BE DONE FROM THAT UNUSUAL VANTAGE POINT, THE ASTRONAUTS SAID. BUT THEY SAID THE FEELING OF BEING OUT THERE AT THE END OF THE BOOM WAS A LITTLE UNUSUAL.
