The chairman of the House Science Committee released a brief statement shortly after NASA delayed the launch of STS-121 from May to July:
“NASA has done exactly the right thing in pushing back the target date for the launch of STS-121 to further address safety concerns,” Boehlert said. “Administrator Griffin has made it clear all along that the launch window might have to be pushed back to July.
“Today’s decision demonstrates that safety confidence and technical readiness, rather than an arbitrary schedule, will determine when the orbiters fly. That is a decision that is in perfect compliance with the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board and one that I applaud.”
