Crack found in foam on shuttle's fuel tank

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (CNN) -- Workers at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday found a crack in the foam insulation on the space shuttle's fuel tank.

A NASA spokesman said the crack is in the foam that covers a bracket that connects the liquid oxygen feed-line to shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank.

It was discovered during an inspection Sunday evening, and is 4- to 5-inches- long and an eighth- to a quarter-inch wide, NASA said.

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Another nail in the coffin methinks

www.cnn.com...

mod edit to use "ex" tags
Quote Reference.

[edit on 3-7-2006 by sanctum]

Can't they just repair it, new foam? I'm surprised that they wan't the public to know that their billions in taxes are paying for this.

[edit on 3-7-2006 by sanctum]

I am embarrassed. I read my own local headlines so much that I thought drugs were found on the shuttle!

Seriously though, I know they quit painting the tank white a long time ago because it weighed so much, but why not rethink this and apply a white sealer to keep the insulation from falling off?

Get this- they're thinking whether to launch it or not. Thinking?

I may be hyperactive today, and irrational, but hey, if that was me onboard or my loved one was onboard, i'd be on the launching pad demanding they get off!!!!!!!

I wouldnt go anymore than i would continue flying on an airplane that was just fixed for "performance difficulties"

Originally posted by dgtempe


Get this- they're thinking whether to launch it or not. Thinking?

I may be hyperactive today, and irrational, but hey, if that was me onboard or my loved one was onboard, i'd be on the launching pad demanding they get off!!!!!!!

I wouldnt go anymore than i would continue flying on an airplane that was just fixed for "performance difficulties"

It makes you wonder if maybe the astronauts are crazy as well. I mean you have made it sound as if the entire mission is in the hands of NASA management and the astronauts cannot just say, "Hey, we ain't flyin that stinkin' heap until it is fixed."

Ben, How've you been, Ben?

You bet your potty if its their lives at stake they should have a major say about it.

The director of NASA Michael Griffin, should be fired over this story immediately. He is the one that claimed that the space shuttle would be safe to launch. He is the person who said he would get to the bottom of what happened a few years ago and would resolve the issues responsible for claiming the lives of the crew of the last shuttle disaster.

He is the person responsible for what could of easily been another disaster. Since Michael Griffin has taken over at NASA he has delivered nothing but promises that he has not lived up to. This oversight could of easily lead to the death of another NASA crew.

Here is a link to Scuttle the Shuttle.

www.abovetopsecret.com...'

Someone needs to step forward at NASA and take some responsibility for the fact that they have not fixed the same FATAL problem that did in the previous Shuttle Crew.

Here is a link to two images taken of the crack

I did read a story last week about the director of engineering being removed from the flight project over his objections and safety concerns. If that is the response of the boardroom boys then heaven help the crew

dgtempe lol did you here the thing on the radio "if the astronauts make it to the space station...." IF?!?!?!! lol if I were the astronauts I would be like "what the...if?? I don't think Ill be going up..." come one now. If they make it? that is really a horrible thing to say. though funny to hear and make fun of.

Originally posted by dgtempe
... if that was me onboard or my loved one was onboard, i'd be on the launching pad demanding they get off!!!!!!!

They and their loved ones know the risks, and they're willing to take them.

You bet your potty if its their lives at stake they should have a major say about it.

They do. If they have the slightest reason not to and they voice it, the launch gets scrubbed.

Originally posted by Low Orbit
The director of NASA Michael Griffin, should be fired over this story immediately. He is the one that claimed that the space shuttle would be safe to launch. He is the person who said he would get to the bottom of what happened a few years ago and would resolve the issues responsible for claiming the lives of the crew of the last shuttle disaster.

He is the person responsible for what could of easily been another disaster. Since Michael Griffin has taken over at NASA he has delivered nothing but promises that he has not lived up to. This oversight could of easily lead to the death of another NASA crew.

That's just funny... The reason that you're even hearing about this crack in the insulation is because of Griffin. Every other Shuttle launch that has ever happened has had these cracks, in some form/size or another, but did you hear about them? Nope. Did they pose just as much of a threat then as they do now? Yup.

Someone needs to step forward at NASA and take some responsibility for the fact that they have not fixed the same FATAL problem that did in the previous Shuttle Crew.

Two Shuttle missions ago.

Aside from that, they have made tremendous improvements on the Shuttle and its safety. And, as I've already stated, this very same thing has happened on every Shuttle mission.

I'm really failing to see how Michael Griffin is to blame here. To me it just seems like you have a chip on your shoulder.

Originally posted by grimreaper797
did you here the thing on the radio "if the astronauts make it to the space station...." IF?!?!?!! lol if I were the astronauts I would be like "what the...if?? I don't think Ill be going up..." come one now. If they make it?

There's an element of danger in all space exploration, manned and unmanned. So far there is no launch system with a 100% success rate, though the Shuttle has come close with a 98.25%. So I fail to see why it's considered so dangerous, when all the other lift systems have nothing close to that.

[edit on 7/3/2006 by cmdrkeenkid]

Quick, send that crack to Marion Barry up in D.C., I hear he's running short. In all seriousness, the cracks have always been there. Unless the underlying adhesive is faulty, or they get pretty wide, there is no real danger from them.

[edit on 3-7-2006 by Astronomer70]

They're looking at it with optical equipment, and deciding what to do. One fella brought up a good point. He said "But you can't see what's at the top part of the crack?" The Nasa guy said "He is exactly correct". The reporter then asked, "So, don't you think it (necessary/you should) put a scaffold up to see the damage from topside?" The Nasa engineer said he wasn't sure if they would or not, due to the fact that the shuttle may get damaged from it. Also, note that the engineer stated that they felt the crack had so signifigance to the successful launching.

I find that a totally incredulous statement. I'm not a scientist, but damn! That's a lot of money to not even set up some sort of hands on check of this. Not to mention possible loss of life, first and foremost of course. But we all know what happened to the last peice that broke off. I find this incredible. Anyway, does it seem that we have a deadline? To go on with the launch would make me think so.

Originally posted by cmdrkeenkid
There's an element of danger in all space exploration, manned and unmanned. So far there is no launch system with a 100% success rate, though the Shuttle has come close with a 98.25%. So I fail to see why it's considered so dangerous, when all the other lift systems have nothing close to that.

[edit on 7/3/2006 by cmdrkeenkid]

Yes I know that but the way they were talking on the radio its like they weren't even too confident it would make it to the space station. I mean I can understand that not all missions will work, but come on now. They should at least say "when they make it to the space station" not "if". The confidence in the program takes a major hit when they sound unsure if it can even make it.

Originally posted by maximusX
But we all know what happened to the last peice that broke off.

You mean nothing? The launch last year a piece broke off and nothing happened. In fact, as already stated, material has fallen off on every launch so far. We've had one accident from it, what does that tell you?

Anyway, does it seem that we have a deadline? To go on with the launch would make me think so.

We do. I think the launch window closes on July 14th. If we don't launch by then, we'll need to wait another month.

Originally posted by grimreaper797
Yes I know that but the way they were talking on the radio its like they weren't even too confident it would make it to the space station.

Was it somebody from NASA saying that, or not? If not, that may explain the tone that that was stated.

I wish I could tell you. Memory says it was NASA official, but memories aren't always correct so if I only had the recording...sorry.

Where did you hear it? They newssource in question may have the interview or a transcript online.

Sorry, but one accident is too many. Don't you think??????

I would agree, but to expect none is even worse.

[edit on 7/3/2006 by cmdrkeenkid]

Well I would have to check what day it was. Public Radio so it was probably NPR. But I would have to remember at what time it was to check what show it was on.