Skip to comments.
Astronauts uncover long line of nicks on shuttle
Google News (AP) ^
| 5/12/2009
| n/a
Posted on 05/12/2009 11:58:16 AM PDT by 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....
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: atlantis; damage; debris; nasa; nasasucks; nomoreshuttles; shuttle; shuttleatlantis; spaceshuttle
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 101-116 next last
Pray that it isn't too bad.
1
posted on
05/12/2009 11:58:19 AM PDT
by
Pyro7480
To: Nick Danger
2
posted on
05/12/2009 12:02:59 PM PDT
by
null and void
(We are now in day 113 of our national holiday from reality.)
To: Pyro7480
Traffic congestion. They scratch you and never stop or leave a note.
3
posted on
05/12/2009 12:04:56 PM PDT
by
nufsed
(Release the birth certificate, school and passport records.)
To: Pyro7480
4
posted on
05/12/2009 12:05:16 PM PDT
by
John W
To: Pyro7480
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.
5
posted on
05/12/2009 12:10:04 PM PDT
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi ... Godspeed.)
To: Pyro7480
t could be related to debris that came off the fuel tank almost two minutes after liftoffWonder if it was environmentally friendly material that peeled off. Serious white knuckle re-entry for the astronauts ahead.
6
posted on
05/12/2009 12:11:06 PM PDT
by
Minn
(Here is a realistic picture of the prophet: ----> ([: {()
To: Pyro7480
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. :-)
7
posted on
05/12/2009 12:21:32 PM PDT
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi ... Godspeed.)
To: Pyro7480
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.
8
posted on
05/12/2009 12:22:14 PM PDT
by
FreepShop1
(www.FreepShop.com)
To: Pyro7480
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.
9
posted on
05/12/2009 12:23:03 PM PDT
by
Ramius
(Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
To: Pyro7480
result of launch debris.... Well, maybe it could be "hangar rash". Known to happen in many an aircraft hangar !
10
posted on
05/12/2009 12:24:44 PM PDT
by
C210N
(A patriot for a Conservative Renaissance!)
To: Pyro7480
I’m surprised they’re able to avoid all of the space junk that’s up there now once they’re in orbit.
11
posted on
05/12/2009 12:26:27 PM PDT
by
hugorand
To: John W
What happens if they then discover a series of nicks 36” long???
12
posted on
05/12/2009 12:27:56 PM PDT
by
theDentist
(qwerty ergo typo : i type, therefore i misspell.)
To: theDentist
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.
13
posted on
05/12/2009 12:32:14 PM PDT
by
Evil Slayer
(Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war)
To: Pyro7480
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?
14
posted on
05/12/2009 12:34:41 PM PDT
by
txroadkill
(#12 in 2012 Baby!)
To: txroadkill
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.
15
posted on
05/12/2009 12:37:50 PM PDT
by
Evil Slayer
(Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war)
To: Pyro7480
NASA says the damage does not appear to be serious, but more analysis is needed.
Deja vu2
16
posted on
05/12/2009 12:37:54 PM PDT
by
DoughtyOne
(Pres__ent Obama's own grandmother says he was born in Kenya. She was there.)
To: 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....Then again, probably not.
17
posted on
05/12/2009 12:38:11 PM PDT
by
FReepaholic
(Endeavor to persevere.)
To: Evil Slayer
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.
18
posted on
05/12/2009 12:38:57 PM PDT
by
edcoil
(Taxes only help an evil government)
To: FreepShop1
I think driving without lug nuts is safer than flying in the Shuttle. I cant 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.
19
posted on
05/12/2009 12:38:58 PM PDT
by
Moonman62
(The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
To: Pyro7480
"It's safety first, as ever," said NASA spokesman William Jeffs at Houston's Johnson Space Center in Texas.
Groan...
20
posted on
05/12/2009 12:45:20 PM PDT
by
DoughtyOne
(Pres__ent Obama's own grandmother says he was born in Kenya. She was there.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 101-116 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson