NASA sets Discovery launch for July 1

The US space shuttle Discovery is scheduled for a new launch on July 1, NASA announced on Saturday, while admitting that a long review had not resolved every safety issue surrounding the mission.

The US space shuttle Discovery is scheduled for a new launch on July 1, NASA announced on Saturday, while admitting that a long review had not resolved every safety issue surrounding the mission.

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After a final safety review in which not all officials agreed with the decision to go ahead, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration set a launch window for the first shuttle launch in nearly one year for July 1 - July 19.

"I don't see any reason why we could not launch July 1st," said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for space operations in the shuttle program.

"We do not believe we are risking the crew," he said.

The US space agency's shuttle program was suspended to review numerous safety issues after the problematic Discovery flight in late July 2005.

NASA administrator Michael Griffin conceded that there is still a potential problem of foam pieces breaking away from the shuttle's fuel tanks and damaging it.