[diverteach]

I don't understand why they don't simply make it a standard procedure to do a spacewalk at somepoint during each mission and prior to re-entry, to do a visual inspection of the tiles, and have available a kit to repair any that are damaged or missing.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know for example that if your driving down the road and you see something fall from your car that you'd pull over and get out to do an inspection.

[b4its2late]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know for example that if your driving down the road and you see something fall from your car that you'd pull over and get out to do an inspection.

Common sense for you and me yes, but remember, these guys and gals ARE rocket scientists.....

[buccaneer81]

I don't understand why they don't simply make it a standard procedure to do a spacewalk at somepoint during each mission and prior to re-entry,

Expensive (training, suit usage, time lost from other pursuits) and risky (only a matter of time before an astronaut's suit is holed by dust or debris.)

[AFreeBird]

I don't understand why they don't simply make it a standard procedure to do a spacewalk at somepoint during each mission and prior to re-entry, to do a visual inspection of the tiles, and have available a kit to repair any that are damaged or missing.

Well for one, EVA's take plannning and are usually correographed and rehearsed. They also take time, time away from mission activities.

If they can check out the critical areas via remote equipment, that would be the preferred method. Then if something is found, an EVA would be scheduled.

[burzum]

Actually they have the capability to do that with the Canada-arm. But more useful than that would be closeup photographs (since the shuttle is a big spacecraft, it would take a long spacewalk to do a full inspection). They are going to do this by pitching over prior to docking with the International Space Station. For about 8 minutes, the ISS crew will photograph in detail the space shuttle. These will be transmitted to Earth where scientists and engineers can examine them in much more detail.

Don't worry, they will at least understand what the damage is in the next couple of days. Per the mission timeline, they will do the pitch over maneuver at 6:08 ET on Thursday just before docking.

[Veloxherc]

They have a new robotic arm that can put a camera all over the exterior.

[webstersII]

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know for example that if your driving down the road and you see something fall from your car that you'd pull over and get out to do an inspection."

Sure, but the problem is that even if they found something wrong the chances of them being able to effect repairs in space are virtually nil.

That has to be balanced against the time, energy, and risk required for a space walk.

[rwrcpa1]

That's what they are doing this morning. They are using the robotic arm with a laser and a HD camera to scan the wings and the nose cone. You can watch live at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html