Astronauts uncover long line of nicks on shuttle

Google News (AP) ^ | 5/12/2009 | n/a

[Pyro7480]

The Atlantis astronauts have uncovered a long stretch of nicks on their space shuttle, the result of launch debris.

They were inspecting their ship Tuesday for signs of launch damage when they came across the nicks. Mission Control informed the crew that it's a 21-inch stretch of nicks over four to five thermal tiles on the right side of Atlantis. The damage is where the right wing joins the fuselage.

Mission Control says it could be related to debris that came off the fuel tank almost two minutes after liftoff.

NASA says the damage does not appear to be serious, but more analysis is needed.

Atlantis blasted off Monday on a risky repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope....

[Pyro7480]

Pray that it isn't too bad.

[null and void]

ping

[nufsed]

Traffic congestion. They scratch you and never stop or leave a note.

[John W]

Second NASA shuttle poised for bold space rescue

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hFvX2oU2WeerEahqPJ-j1L7vbo3w

[NormsRevenge]

they have a couple patch options available, haven’t gotten to use any yet on a mission.

any pics yet? curious the location and depth and breadth of knicks or gouges.

[Minn]

t could be related to debris that came off the fuel tank almost two minutes after liftoff

Wonder if it was environmentally friendly material that peeled off. Serious white knuckle re-entry for the astronauts ahead.

[NormsRevenge]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/

Minor tile damage found during Atlantis inspections

Engineers at the Johnson Space Center are evaluating a small area of tile damage on the forward part of the shuttle Atlantis' right wing where it joins the ship's fuselage. The nicked tiles, apparently damaged during launch by a debris impact around 106 seconds after liftoff, were spotted during an ongoing heat shield inspection by the Atlantis astronauts.

at first glance.. It's just a flesh wound, they probably won't need to even patch.. jmho. :-)

[FreepShop1]

I think driving without lug nuts is safer than flying in the Shuttle. I can’t believe we keep sending them up knowing the tile problem is so acute.

[Ramius]

Describing them as “nicks” seems to suggest that they aren’t very deep or wide. As opposed to say, “gouges” or something else. Hopefully it doesn’t present a problem.

[C210N]

result of launch debris.... Well, maybe it could be "hangar rash". Known to happen in many an aircraft hangar !

[hugorand]

I’m surprised they’re able to avoid all of the space junk that’s up there now once they’re in orbit.

[theDentist]

What happens if they then discover a series of nicks 36” long???

[Evil Slayer]

The Hubble repair will probably be aborted. The crew will probably focus on repair of shuttle via space walks. If not successful, the rescue shuttle will be sent up. Transfer of crew to rescue shuttle and back home. Atlantis will be left as a museum piece in space.

[txroadkill]

I guess it would be kind of cool to see Endeavor go to the rescue, but I guess that would mean that they would have to abandon Atlantis in orbit.

But what do they do if Endeavor has tile damage when it gets up there? Send up Discovery?

[Evil Slayer]

Discovery would probably have to be fitted with special restraints in it’s cargo bay to hold all the extra crew. I don’t think they would all fit in the cabin.

[DoughtyOne]

NASA says the damage does not appear to be serious, but more analysis is needed.

Deja vu²

[FReepaholic]

...The Hubble repair will probably be aborted. The crew will probably focus on repair of shuttle via space walks. If not successful, the rescue shuttle will be sent up. Transfer of crew to rescue shuttle and back home. Atlantis will be left as a museum piece in space....

Then again, probably not.

[edcoil]

If it if is minor, it would be good theater and drama to send the second shuttle up. Since neither is going to fly up much longer.

[Moonman62]

I think driving without lug nuts is safer than flying in the Shuttle. I can’t believe we keep sending them up knowing the tile problem is so acute.

The Shuttle has always been this way. It's a high risk design. If they used a fraction of the money for W's Mars boondoggle, they could design a new launcher that would put the Orbiter at the top of the stack. The Orbiter could be used for many more years to come, safely, and then a replacement Orbiter could be designed to put on top of the same stack.

[DoughtyOne]

"It's safety first, as ever," said NASA spokesman William Jeffs at Houston's Johnson Space Center in Texas.

Groan...