New Shuttle Fuel Tanks Ready

confusion writes "NASA has completed the redesigned fuel tanks for the Shuttle scheduled to for launch in May or June of this year. "On the new tank, NASA has reconfigured the struts and fittings where foam was prone to peeling off, and installed heaters to prevent ice from forming. The new tank has cameras that will allow ground workers to monitor for damage as the shuttle ascends.""

Comments

Damage-Cams

[Anonymous Coward]

"The new tank has cameras that will allow ground workers to monitor for damage as the shuttle ascends."

Not much of a reassurance to the crew though, are they?

Ground worker #1: "Looks like she's breakin' apart."
Ground worker #2: "Mm-hmm."
Ground worker #1: "We install brakes?"
Ground worker #2: "Nope."
Ground worker #1: "Ejection seats?"
Ground worker #2: "Nope."
Ground worker #1: "... So, how about them Cubs?"

Not only that....

[AtariAmarok]

"Troy Hurtubise, the Canadian who did the famous bear-proof suit documented in the movie Project grizzly, spent 18 years researching how to make a flameproof material, and finally has it."

Not only that, but if you apply this bearproofing technology to the shuttle program, you are ready to go for the Ursa Major mission.

Re:Not only that....

[October_30th]

you are ready to go for the Ursa Major mission

Wouldn't it be safer to start with an Ursa Minor mission first?

Re:They're still not solving the problem

[i41Overlord]

Troy Hurtubise, the Canadian who did the famous bear-proof suit documented in the movie Project grizzly, spent 18 years researching how to make a flameproof material, and finally has it. It's far more heat-resistant than the space shuttle tiles, far more durable, and far cheaper.

It should be mentioned that not only are his new tiles flameproof, but they're bear-proof as well. This is very beneficial for the shuttle during re-entry, where it has to survive not only the intense heat of re-entry, but the occasional high-altitude bear attack as well.