The Nation - News from March 23, 1987

The next space shuttle flight may be delayed, with devastating consequences to the program, until after the 1988 presidential elections out of fears of political repercussions from any possible failure, the New York Times reported. Aerospace experts and some space agency officials said the White House might postpone the flight because of the remote chance of technical failure, the newspaper said. But other experts were quoted as saying that the allure of a bold success amid a lackluster campaign might create pressure for a launching even if problems arose.