Supported Those Who Voted "No Go" For Saturday's Flight

In the latest development regarding the apparent rift between NASA management and safety advocates concerning Saturday's planned launch of the space shuttle Discovery, ANN learned Tuesday that Chief Engineer -- and recent astronaut -- Charles Camarda has been removed from his post as head of the mission management team (MMT).

Camarda says it's all about his objections to launching STS-121 on Saturday, in spite of lingering concerns over foam delamination -- the kind of trouble that led to the Columbia tragedy in 2003.

The Houston Chronicle said Camarda now reports to the NASA Engineering and Safety Center in Houston.

We're getting differing stories about whether Camarda asked to be reassigned... or was relieved of duty. But in an email to his employees -- obtained by an organization called Collect Space -- Camarda says he just can't accept the way NASA chooses future leaders.

"I have always based my decisions on facts, data and good solid analysis," Camarda wrote. "I cannot be a party to rumor, innuendo, gossip and/or manipulation to make or break someone's career and/or good name. I refused to abandon my position on the MMT and asked that if I would not be allowed to work this mission that I would have to be fired from my position and I was."

Camarda added that in the wake of his objections over safety concerns about the upcoming mission, he refused to step down from the shuttle project and said... if NASA wanted him off STS-121... the agency would have to fire him.

You may remember Camarda from last year's Return to Flight mission. He was a mission specialist aboard Discovery.

Meantime, NASA officials and astronauts both past and present say... they understand and accept the risks of flying with known foam issues. They say they're better equipped to deal with them... in spite of an internal NASA document that says there's a one-in-66 chance of a catastrophe should the foam issues remain.

FMI: www.nasa.gov