NASA: Shuttle may be OK despite 3-inch heat shield gash

NASA wants to get a closer look at a troubling gouge on the heat shield that protects space shuttle Endeavour's belly to determine if astronauts need to repair the 3-inch wound. The space agency planned to spend several hours Sunday doing a detailed inspection of the 3 1/2-by-2-inch gash. It was caused by a piece of foam that came off the shuttle's external fuel tank during liftoff last week, striking tiles that insulate the ship from the intense heat of re-entry to Earth, NASA said. More

(Source: CNN.com - Aug 12)