(S (S (S (BASENP (NNP NASA)) (VP (ADVP (RBR earlier)) (VP (VBD had) (VP (VBN made) (NP (BASENP (NNS jokes)) (PP (IN about) (NP (NP (BASENP (DT a) (JJ small) (JJ black) (NN bat)) (VP (VBN attached) (PP (TO to) (NP (BASENP (DT the) (NN rear)) (PP (IN of) (BASENP (DT the) (JJ external) (NN fuel) (NN tank))))))) (VP (VBG delaying) (BASENP (NN launch)))))))))) (CONJP (COMMA ,) (CC but)) (S (BASENP (NN NASA)) (VP (VBD assured) (SBAR (S (BASENP (PRP it)) (VP (VP (MD would) (RB not)) (VP (VB be) (NP (BASENP (DT a) (NN problem)) (PP (IN for) (BASENP (NN launch))))))))))) (PERIOD .))