1.   Launch pad repairs commenced late last week with the excavation of the rubber insulation in two of five O-ring joints in the left and right side booster nozzles.

2.   Shuttle managers elected to improve the nozzle assembly process by adding a vacuum device to the process of injecting the rubber insulation during the nozzle assembly.

3.   The strategy likely will be executed on the launch pad and involve the removal and reinjection of the liquid rubber insulation in the nozzles.

4.   In addition, the company is seeking new markets in Latin America to export their rubber insulations.

5.   The strategy probably will be executed on the launch pad and involve the removal and re-injection of the liquid rubber insulation in the nozzles.