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Minor Damage Found On Space Shuttle

Posted by kdawson on from the just-don't-chip-the-other-one dept.

The BBC is reporting on minor damage to the space shuttle Atlantis revealed by a 10-hour inspection in orbit. On the shuttle's right side, near where the wing joins the body, inspection revealed a 21" (53cm) line of chips in the tiles that make up the vehicle's heat shield. "...more analysis by engineers would determine whether a 'focused inspection' was needed in that specific area. If so, astronauts would use sensors to determine the exact depth of the damage to the heat shield tiles. NASA has placed the space shuttle Endeavour on stand-by to rescue the crew of Atlantis if they are endangered." The crew couldn't shelter on the ISS in case of trouble, because their orbit is higher and on a different inclination.

6 of 233 comments (clear)

  1. Re:So what happens.... by argent · · Score: 4, Funny

    Right, we don't want to have excessive chances for success.

  2. Re:So what happens.... by dotancohen · · Score: 4, Funny

    .. if they launch Endeavour to rescue Atlantis, and Endeavour suffers damage at launch?

    Then they bring out the gimp.

    --
    It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
  3. This begs the question by blind+biker · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Have Rockets Run Their Course?"

    --
    "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
  4. Re:So what happens.... by vjmurphy · · Score: 4, Funny

    ". if they launch Endeavour to rescue Atlantis, and Endeavour suffers damage at launch?"

    Then you are obviously in a Michael Bay movie, where logic and physics are thrown out the door. Mayhem, shakycam and explosions usually follow.

    --
    Vincent J. Murphy
    Spandex Justice
  5. Re:So what happens.... by dzfoo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can they use the clone tool to erase the damage?

            -dZ.

    --
    Carol vs. Ghost
    ...Can you save Christmas?
  6. Re:Not a concern - More info here by dzfoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    "And Scooter, also I've got some good news about the tile damage that we saw on the starboard chine area earlier today," astronaut Alan Poindexter radioed from mission control shortly after 8 p.m.

    "Oh, I'm looking forward to that. Go ahead," replied shuttle commander Scott "Scooter" Altman.

    "It turns out that a focussed inspection of that area on the starboard chine is not going to be required," Poindexter reported.

    "All right, you've got some happy EVA campers on that," Altman said.

    "Yeah, don't worry about the inspection, you don't have to go out, really.", Poindexter continued, "and, uh, whatever you guys do, don't look out the window."

    "Copy tha--er what??" replied Commander Altman.

    "Right, just... focus on the mission. Oh hey, Altam, your wife is here, she'd like to say goodb--uh, hello."

    --
    Carol vs. Ghost
    ...Can you save Christmas?