CAPE CANAVERAL-- There was no "dirty trick" behind the photographs of Sen. John Kerry wearing the blue anti-contamination suit while touring the shuttle Discovery on Monday.

As political pundits and comedians pounced on the pictures of Kerry in what outsiders might deem a goofy-looking costume, the senator's campaign aides alleged the pictures were not supposed to be released publicly.

Not true, said NASA. Government photographers routinely snap pictures of visiting dignitaries.

Kerry's group more than qualified as dignitaries: four U.S. senators, two of whom were former astronauts, John Glenn and Bill Nelson. NASA often posts such pictures on its Internet sites for the public and reporters.

Furthermore, NASA spokesman Bill Johnson said the Kerry campaign asked that the pictures be taken of the senator's unusually up-close tour of the Discovery and that processing be expedited so reporters could have them.

The pictures have prompted chuckles and jokes among political pundits covering the Democratic National Convention in Boston because, to people unfamiliar with shuttle operations, the head-to-toe light-blue suits look goofy.

However, astronauts, workers or anyone else getting inside a shuttle or near other spacecraft and rockets being readied for launch wears such coveralls to protect the delicate vehicles from contamination.

Kerry was not alone in costume Monday. Senators Glenn, Nelson and Bob Graham wore them as well because they required garb for the foursome's incredibly rare opportunity to climb inside a shuttle. Discovery is the orbiter that will fly the first mission since the Columbia disaster last year.

Contact Kelly at 242-3660 or jkelly@flatoday.net

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