http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4269835

"SIGHS of relief all round greeted the touchdown of STS 114, as the
latest space-shuttle flight is known to the cognoscenti. In truth, this
was the most mollycoddled mission in NASA's history, so if anything
serious had gone wrong with it the agency would probably not have
emerged intact from the wreckage. Now, although there are still doubts
about whether there will ever be an STS 115, the show can go on. And
the next act, expected within a few days-or weeks at most-will be
the unveiling of detailed plans for a return to the moon."

I rarely hear that word, "mollycoddle." Apparently it means to be
overprotective and indulgent toward. Who can imagine a reason for NASA,
Lockheed, and its partners to engage in such pampering? Some will say
it's only the "Kranz approach," but most know better.

Challenger's Ghost