Posted on 11/14/2022 9:02:05 AM PST by BenLurkin
After multiple delays due to hydrogen fuel leaks and other glitches, along with the rocket’s nail-biting brush with Hurricane Nicole last week, NASA managers met Sunday to review launch preparations and agreed to start a 47-hour 10-minute countdown at 1:54 a.m. EST Monday. Launch is planned for 1:04 a.m. Wednesday.
But high winds from Nicole caused a thin strip of caulk-like material known as RTV to delaminate and pull away from the base of the Orion crew capsule’s protective nose cone at the top of the rocket.
The material is used to fill in a slight indentation where the fairing attaches to the capsule, minimizing aerodynamic heating during ascent. The fairing fits over the Orion capsule and is jettisoned once the rocket is out of the dense lower atmosphere.
Engineers do not have access for repairs at the pad and must develop “flight rationale,” that is, a justification for flying despite the delaminated RTV, in order to proceed with the launch. Managers want to make sure any additional material that pulls away in flight will not impact and damage downstream components.
(Excerpt) Read more at spaceflightnow.com ...
They are already making excuses for failure—they sound like Republican leaders.
The material is used to fill in a slight indentation where the fairing attaches to the capsule, minimizing aerodynamic heating during ascent.
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Sounds like the caulking had a purpose; an important purpose. Why play games with a multi-million dollar rocket?
“Get-there-itis”
Hmm...Damaged insulation....when has that ever been a problem before....?
NASA are LOSERS.
That’s why the launch is in the middle of the night. No one will be watching. But it will be spectacular.lol.
Should have used “Flex Seal”!
My son is flying to Cape Canaveral to watch.
Deja vu...
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