Foam Shot Causes Damage to Shuttle Mockup

DoraLives writes "The New York Times is running a story describing the effects caused by a piece of foam fired at a fiberglass mock up of the Space Shuttle's wing. Although fiberglass is stronger than the RCC material on Columbia's wing, "The impact produced a 22-inch-long gap." Not good."

Comments

Shuttle Astronauts killed by the EPA

[Picass0]

Dryden Flight Research Center:

DRYDEN F-15B SUPPORTS SHUTTLE EXTERNAL TANK INSULATION TESTS
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewsReleases/199 9/99-01.html
Published in 1999

fourth paragraph:

"The experiment was part of an effort to determine why small particles of spray-on foam insulation flaked off of the inter-tank section of the external fuel tank on Space Shuttle mission STS-87 as the Shuttle ascended. The new lightweight insulation material was developed to comply with an EPA mandate to reduce ozone-depleting chemicals released into the atmosphere. Although such flaking or erosion of the insulation off the external tank posed no safety hazard to the Shuttle or its crew, engineers wanted to determine its cause to prevent future maintenance and operational problems. The flights aboard Dryden's F-15B were just one of many tests to which the new insulation material is being subjected. "

The EPA required Nasa to continue using a foam that was not as safe as the older tank foam. The EPA has a direct responsiblity for this disaster.