William Gerstenmaier Quotations

We're going to have to make some modifications to the tank, so that probably puts the September (launch) window into a not very likely possibility.

We're going to do the right thing and let the data drive us where we need to go. I think we've got a unique opportunity to get this right.

We're still going to be able to accomplish our goals for a good station configuration for shuttle retirement. In our schedule and planning we assumed that we'd have some shuttle problems along the way.

We're 'go' for the crew exchange and 'go' to continue flying to the space station.

The question is, what is the work force ready to do.

We know that oxygen generating systems in general have had a lot of problems over the years during start-up. We want to fly it early so we can work those out.

We know a lot about the cracking phenomenon, but we still haven't pinpointed the cause. We know it's related to the chill down process and to some pressurization of the tank, but how those fit together...it's not an easy problem.

We think that's the best thing to do, just take it off. I think we ought not to think about May right now.

There's lots of options being investigated. We're not really sure where things are right now.

It looks like it's going to be very unlikely that we're going to be able to just remove the...ramp and fly.

It's great that our Russian partners are here to help us during this time. It would never have occurred without the tragedy of Columbia. So out of that tragedy has come a remarkable relationship between our two countries and our two space programs.