All nine members of the ASAP resigned in protest Sept. 23 following criticism that the oversight panel had long ceased to be effective in its congressionally charted role as safety watchdogs.

Speaking with reporters Tuesday, NASA Administrator Sean OKeefe said that the agency would be appointing a new slate of ASAP members imminently and would revise the panels charter to better reflect the intent of Congress when it established the body in 1967 in the wake of the Apollo 1 launch pad fire that killed three astronauts. The statutory language establishing the panel is fairly broad, empowering the group to review safety studies and operational plans and report its concerns to the NASA administrator.

The original charter established a term limit of six years for ASAP members. OKeefe said he favors shortening the term of service for ASAP members.

OKeefe also told reporters he envisions a panel of safety experts "from all walks of life" that will serve the role of a corporate board of directors, opining mainly on broad, systemic issues within NASA as opposed to focusing on specific events as they crop up.

On a historical note, OKeefe pointed out that the original ASAP language was authored and introduced by then Rep. Donald Rumsfeld (R-Ill.), the current U.S. Defense Secretary.

By the end of the week, NASA plans to release an update to its Return to Flight implementation plan. NASA officials announced last week that the return to flight target date had slipped from March to October 2004 to allow more time to implement recommendations made by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

During the Tuesday meeting with reporters, OKeefe unveiled a pocket size tool that could play a key role in on orbit shuttle repairs. A foam brush commonly available at hardware stores has proven particularly effective, he said, in applying a spreadable compound NASA is considering for patching damaged space shuttle tiles on orbit.