 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Washington (AFP) Nov 15, 2010 Inspectors have found a fourth crack in support beams on the external fuel tanks of the space shuttle Discovery, whose final flight was delayed because of a hydrogen leak, NASA said late Monday. The latest crack was found while technicians were removing foam while inspecting the support beams, which are called stringers, in the aftermath of the hydrogen leak, the space agency said. Two nine-inch (21-centimeter) cracks were found in an adjacent support beam on Friday, and a three-inch (7.5 centimeter) fissure was uncovered over the weekend. "Further foam removal revealed one additional corresponding crack on the same left-hand adjacent stringer," NASA said. "Technicians plan to remove that section of the stringer Monday night. They'll also install a new section of metal, called a doubler because it's twice as thick as the original stringer metal, on the stringer that had the nine-inch cracks," it said. Stringers are 21-foot (6.4-meter) long support beams in an area between the lower part of the external fuel tanks, which holds liquid hydrogen, and the upper part containing liquid oxygen. The space agency is still aiming to launch Discovery at the next opportunity November 30, but senior managers will meet at the Johnson Space Center November 22 to review the repair work and launch preparations. To get in a flight to the International Space Station this year, Discovery must blast off before December 6. Otherwise it will have to wait until February, the same month that the last-ever shuttle launch is scheduled before the fleet is mothballed for good. Discovery's 11-day mission with its all-American crew of six is to deliver a pressurized logistics module called Leonardo to the ISS, which will be permanently attached to the space station to provide more storage space. The shuttle will also bring Robonaut 2, the first human-like robot in space and a permanent addition to the orbiting space station, as well as spare parts. Two space walks, for maintenance work and component installation, are scheduled. The Discovery has launched into space 38 times, and NASA aims to retire the shuttle after its final and 39th voyage.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Shuttle at NASA Watch NASA TV via Space.TV Space Shuttle News at Space-Travel.Com
Teams Evaluate GUCP Data As Repairs To ET Cracks ContinueKSC FL (SPX) Nov 16, 2010 Over the weekend at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians took additional measurements to ensure the best possible alignment of the newly installed ground umbilical carrier plate, or GUCP, on space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank. Teams installed the flight seal Friday night and will meet to evaluate data. Technicians expect to begin installing the qu ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook
