Gash in Endeavour\

Gash in thermal shield of Endeavour

www.comcast.net

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A routine shuttle mission, highlighted by a teacher's first spaceflight and space station construction, is now overshadowed by a potentially serious gash in Endeavour's thermal shield.

A detailed laser inspection on Sunday of the difficult-to-reach area on Endeavour's belly may send astronauts out to repair the 3-inch wound later in the week. A severe penetration could let in searing gases when the shuttle returns to Earth in a possible replay of the Columbia accident.

(visit the link for the full news article)



[edit on 11-8-2007 by seeingevil]

Quite interesting... The report claims a possible replay of the Columbia accident but also states that in an emergency the shuttle could stay at the Space station for at least two months while a rescue shuttle launch is planned.

www.comcast.net
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 11-8-2007 by seeingevil]

Most likely thing to happen is that it will be repaired, the scale and nature of this impact are no where near as severe as the one on Columbia.

They have three or four methods they're looking at using for repairs to the gash. It's not deep, and the most likely repair would involve using a reflective paint like substance they have on the shuttle with them. Orbiters have landed with entire tiles missing safely through the years. This is a much smaller 3x3 gash.

Already posted here:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Indeed it is, and quite some time earlier than my post as well... Apparently I didn't search as well as I thought I did when looking to see if this had already been posted about.

Please discuss in existing thread NASA Identifies Damage to Shuttle Endeavour's Heat Tiles.

Thanks.

Closed