Damaged shuttle
The week's news at a glance.
United States
Damage to the heat shield of the space shuttle Endeavour is minor and should not endanger the craft on its return to Earth, the shuttle’s commander said this week. “My understanding is that this tile damage is not an issue of the safety of the crew,” shuttle commander Scott Kelly said. “I’m not concerned with our safety.” The damage occurred when a piece of insulation struck the heat-shielding tiles on the underside of the shuttle’s hull during liftoff last week. The shuttle astronauts and ground control are debating whether to send an astronaut on a space walk to repair the damage with a sealant.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Carnivore diet: why people are eating only meat
The Explainer 'Meatfluencers' are taking social media by storm but experts warn meat-only diets have health consequences
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published