NASA Finds Critical Assembly Fault in Shuttle

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NASA Finds Critical Assembly Fault in Shuttle

Posted by michael on Tuesday March 23, 2004 @05:28AM from the lucked-out dept.

mzs writes "During corrosion inspection on Discovery, technicians noticed that one of the gears in a rudder actuator had been installed backwards. This particular actuator was the top-most of four that control the air brakes on the tail. As luck turns out, if it had been the bottom-most actuator, loss of the shuttle and crew would have been nearly inevitable. Plans are in place to have four spares by the time Shuttle missions resume next year."

10 of 383 comments (clear)

Simple solution, really. by grub · 2004-03-23 05:29 · Score: 5, Funny

Could they not stamp "THIS SIDE UP" or whatever on the components?

--
Trolling is a art,
1. Re:Simple solution, really. by fbform · 2004-03-23 05:37 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Could they not stamp "THIS SIDE UP" or whatever on the components?
  
  They did something similar with the modified 747 that carries the shuttle orbiter back after landing. See this picture. This is supposed to be a sign on top of the 747, where the orbiter links to the top of the 747's fuselage. It reads "Place Orbiter Here...Black Side Down".
  
  If this is real, they have one hell of a sense of humor.
  
  --
  Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
2. Re:Simple solution, really. by Kenja · 2004-03-23 05:42 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  "Could they not stamp "THIS SIDE UP" or whatever on the components?"
  There is no "up" in space....
  
  --
  
  "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
3. Re:Simple solution, really. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-23 05:45 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Impossible? Nah, they'll just need a bigger hammer.
4. Re:Simple solution, really. by Imperator · 2004-03-23 06:00 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  And I bet someone will manage to force it in backwards, breaking three other parts in the process.
  
  --
  
  Gates' Law: Every 18 months, the speed of software halves.
5. Re:Simple solution, really. by Stitch_626 · 2004-03-23 06:27 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  They could stamp "If you can read this, turn gear around and install correctly" on one side and "There you go Einstein...you finally got it right" on the other.
  
  --
  Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.
6. Re:Simple solution, really. by bjohnson · 2004-03-23 07:16 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Damn straight!
  
  Quick...it's total darkness, the bad guys are on your trail and you have 15 seconds to place and rig the claymore, or you're all gonna get captured or killed.
  
  Yes you want it to be as completely foolproof as possible.
Geez... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-23 05:33 · Score: 4, Funny

Come on NASA, it's not rocket science! Oh wait...
I'm betting... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-23 05:35 · Score: 5, Funny

...I'll be running Duke Nukem: Forever on Microsoft Longhorn before the next shuttle launches.
Should have used Java by iamacat · 2004-03-23 05:37 · Score: 4, Funny

NASA Finds Critical Assembly Fault in Shuttle

I know NASA is conservative with technology, but using assembly in this day and age is way backwards!