STS return to flight date

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/01/na...al/01NASA.html

NASA Expects Space Shuttles to Fly Again by Next Spring
By WARREN E. LEARY
The New York Times
Published: May 1, 2004
[EXCERPTS]

WASHINGTON, April 30 — NASA has made sufficient progress
modifying the space shuttle fleet to warrant growing
confidence that the spacecraft can safely resume flying
next spring, space agency officials said Friday.

Wayne Hale, deputy manager of the shuttle program, said that
while much more work needed to be done, "we have made
significant progress across the board."

Mr. Hale said the pace of shuttle modifications included
enough reserve time to complete everything by next spring...

Launching of the shuttle Discovery is now set for a period
between next March 6 and April 18. This "return to flight"
mission to the International Space Station would test new
procedures for future flights and bring spare parts and
supplies to the station.