Golf-Ball Sized Hail Damages Shuttle

Posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday February 28, 2007 @02:15AM from the don't-make-me-stop-this-thing dept.

MattSparkes writes "The Shuttles March launch has been delayed to late April after golf-ball sized hail caused 7000 pits and divots in the foam that shields the fuel tank. NASA say it's the worst damage of its kind that they have ever seen, but hail is not a new problem for the agency. In 1982, a hailstorm damaged the sensitive heat shield tiles on the Columbia's wings. The damaged tiles then absorbed about 540 kilograms of rain. Once in space, the orbiter faced the Sun to allow the tiles to dry out."

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hang on... by symes · 2007-02-28 02:32 · Score: 5, Funny

Golf balls have bumps and divots over the surface to enable longer flight times. Surely these additional bumps will also aid the shuttle's aerodynamics?
Re:Exactly how hard... by SydBarrett · 2007-02-28 02:42 · Score: 4, Funny

Uh oh, NASA forgot to put the shuttle in the garage after they got back from the mall. Their dad is gonna be SO pissed.
Re:Obviously by aadvancedGIR · 2007-02-28 03:01 · Score: 4, Funny

That foam really tied the fuel tank together, did it not?