Shuttle Cleared For Re-entry

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (AP) -- Mission managers have cleared Discovery for re-entry November 6th, saying its thermal shielding is in good, solid condition.<br/><br/>It was some good news after a setback

Sunday, October 28th 2007, 3:07 pm

By: News On 6

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (AP) -- Mission managers have cleared Discovery for re-entry November 6th, saying its thermal shielding is in good, solid condition.

It was some good news after a setback discovered by spacewalking astronauts earlier in the day.

They found what appeared to be metal shavings inside a joint that is needed to turn a set of solar power panels. Metal-on-metal grating is suspected.

The joint was installed just four months ago. It controls solar panel wings on the right side of the space station, to make sure they're facing the sun.

NASA says the rotary joint will remain in a parked position as much as possible until the problem is solved.