Stuck Knob Causes Serious Window Damage To Atlantis [may have to be scrapped]

Slashdot ^ | 6/25/9 | timothy

[Clint Williams]

FTL writes

"While in orbit a metal knob floated between a window and the dashboard of Atlantis. Once back on Earth, the shuttle contracted, wedging the knob firmly in place and damaging the window. Initial attempts to free the knob have failed and engineers may need six months to disassemble that section of the orbiter. Given that the shuttle program will probably end next year anyway, such a delay might mean scrapping Atlantis early rather than repairing it. Efforts to remove the knob using less invasive techniques continue."

[silverleaf]

That’s what happens when you go to a dealer for repair estimates

replace loose knob: $1.39 for part, $2 billion for labor

[cripplecreek]

There aint nuthin worse than a misplaced wedged knob.

[dfwgator]

There aint nuthin worse than a misplaced wedged knob.

Hmmm Governor Sanford might know a thing or two about that.

[bigbob]

don’t suppose they can just call the guys in the little red truck...

[PC99]

“Scrapped” is not accurate - Atlantis would be retired early. If the inner pressure window has been damaged by this knob, it could rupture on the next flight and the vehicle and crew would be lost. Removing the control console to get it out will take 6 months at this point, and the shuttles are supposed to be retired in about 16 months. So they may just fly the remaining 8 missions with the other two orbiters.

[Oldexpat]

Re-pressurize the beast and free up the knob.

[SERKIT]

Good! The faster it will get to the Air Force Museum!

Here's a thought: Get a frickin Dremel Tool with a cut-off wheel and cut the head off the stupid knob!

[green pastures]

Destinations for Mark Sanford, starting with the letter “A”:

Appalachian trail
Argentina
Atlantis space shuttle
...

[Trod Upon]

I’m more worried about the knob that’s in the White House.

[cripplecreek]

Get a frickin Dremel Tool with a cut-off wheel and cut the head off the stupid knob!

LOL that was my first thought too. I suspect they're concerned about the integrity of the winder.

[tet68]

Could always use dry ice and chill it down enough to
get it out.

But then , I’m not a rocket scientist.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I would probably be retired early if I got my knob stuck in the boss’s BMW’s window.

[Dick Bachert]

I guess that depends on where the knob got wedged.

[Redcloak]

So in short, Atlantis has been lost.

...again.

[WellyP]

Find a way to cut the damn thing in half so it can be extracted.

[dfwgator]

Sell it on eBay.

[SERKIT]

The article sez they tried dry ice - now it is rocket-surgery (a cross between brain surgery and rocket science). As the young would say, “It’s, like, HARD!”

[Bubba]

Pressurize the stinking thing... pull the knob... kick the tires... light the fires and get the heck off the Cape!

Blast! Do Rednecks have to do everything???

[norraad]

Rednecks have to do everything, deep down in the bowels of an old refinery I worked in was one of those guys who understood mechanics and chemestry better than any "intellectual" , and could fix anything in his sleep.

"They" , kept wanting to promote him and he would always say, "I can't work with you a$$holes."

[DuncanWaring]

Another, earlier discussion here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279801/posts

[Cheetahcat]

In the vacuum of space it expands slightly so place a quick and dirty Steel Vacuum Chamber over that foreward section of the Orbitor and pull 29 hg on it.

[Mister Da]

So the cigarette lighter knob gets stuck between the dash & the windshield. Lucky it wasn't the “Deploy Landing Gear” knob, or the volume control on the 8-track player.

If they get it back, I recommend Duck Tape.

[dfwgator]

In the vacuum of space it expands slightly so place a quick and dirty Steel Vacuum Chamber over that foreward section of the Orbitor and pull 29 hg on it.

"Commence, Operation 'VacuSuck'"

[Cheetahcat]

“Commence, Operation ‘VacuSuck’”

LMAO Great name!!!We have huge Vacuum syatems and at times had too Do some “Creative? things.

[Bones75]

Dang.. I hate it when I get my knob wedged!

[wastoute]

Man this is too easy. You just pump the shuttle full of air until it is distended the way it was in orbit, then turn it upside down and "Presto" the knob will fall out. And I am not even an engineer (bt I slept in a Holday Express last night!)

Μολὼν λάβε

[ItsForTheChildren]

Eight remaining missions and two orbiters...hmmm...

What's the over/under on how many missions will remain incomplete when the last orbiter is "retired early?"

[William Tell]

Oldexpat said: "Re-pressurize the beast and free up the knob."

Sounds good to me. Thirty PSI inside ought to do the job. Unfortunately, the window may be damaged and require replacement, so removing the object may not be sufficient.

The window damage may be uncertain. Testing the window at 45 or 60 PSI might generate confidence that the window won't fail under normal use.

[NonValueAdded]

[Professional Engineer]

Self ping

[Clinging Bitterly]

Dremel tool.

Good idea. The guy who took out my wisdom teeth could probably get it out in an hour or less.

[anymouse]

Classic example of “for lack of a nail ... the war was lost.”

Murphy was an optimist!