CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - NASA said on Thursday it is ready to lift its ban on space shuttle flights, convinced that only another launch will vanquish lingering safety concerns with the ship's fuel tank that were exposed by the 2003 Columbia disaster.

"It's been a long year with a lot of hard work," shuttle deputy program manager John Shannon said at a news briefing. .

NASA's top engineer and safety officials had argued to delay the launch until additional repairs could be made to the shuttle's fuel tank, which triggered the loss of Columbia and the deaths of seven astronauts.

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