Mission Managers clear Endeavour Landing

After hours of reviewing data and imagery collected during the inspections by the STS-118crew , the managers decided the damage did not pose a safety risk to the crew or Endeavour. The damage occurred during Endeavour’s climb to orbit on Aug. 8.

Early in the day, Mission Specialists Barbara Morgan and Alvin Drew participated in an education event with students at the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Alexandria, Va. Morgan, an educator who became an astronaut, was first selected by NASA in 1985 as the backup to Teacher in Space Christa McAuliffe.

Following the Space Shuttle Challenger accident in 1986, Morgan continued to work with NASA on educational activities and returned to teaching elementary school in Idaho. She was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998.

The center is honoring Morgan with the President George H.W. Bush Leadership Award, its top award.

Morgan and Drew also talked with reporters representing Associated Press Television, Reuters and Idaho Public Television. - NASA News