Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com). Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it exclusively produces is in the public domain. August 11, 2007 Damage to Space Shuttle's Heat Shield Seen in Orbit --------------------------------------------------- http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=189148C:A6F02AD83191E160373455E56C2DADF69574F7DCC14957C0 Astronauts aboard International Space Station spotted gouge in shuttle Endeavour's heat-resistant tiles Friday as orbiter approached for docking The U.S. space agency NASA says it has found what seems to be damage on the space shuttle Endeavour's heat shield. Shuttle Endeavour is viewed from International Space StationAstronauts aboard the International Space Station spotted a gouge in the shuttle's heat-resistant tiles Friday as the orbiter approached for docking. Video images beamed down from space indicate the damaged heat shield measures about 7.5 centimeters square, which is slightly less than 60 square centimeters. NASA officials suspect a piece of ice or insulating foam from the shuttle's external fuel tank hit the heat shield during launch on Wednesday. Two astronauts are due to examine the exterior of the spacecraft later Saturday on the first of up to four spacewalks. NASA says they will gather further information about the condition of the heat shield on Sunday, using sensors attached to a robot arm. Based on the crew's findings, engineers will determine whether the heat-shield damage is significant enough to warrant repairs in orbit. In February of 2003, a damaged heat shield caused the fiery breakup of the shuttle Columbia. All seven astronauts aboard the craft died as it disintegrated in the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere. Endeavour will be docked at the space station for seven to 10 days. The crew of two women and five men includes 55-year-old school-teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan. NASA says she will create a "classroom in space" during the mission. Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP. .