Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Stuck Knob Causes Serious Window Damage To Atlantis

Posted by timothy on from the for-want-of-a-nail dept.

FTL writes "While in orbit a metal knob floated between a window and the dashboard of Atlantis. Once back on Earth, the shuttle contracted, wedging the knob firmly in place and damaging the window. Initial attempts to free the knob have failed and engineers may need six months to disassemble that section of the orbiter. Given that the shuttle program will probably end next year anyway, such a delay might mean scrapping Atlantis early rather than repairing it. Efforts to remove the knob using less invasive techniques continue."

13 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. The Inanimate Carbon Knob! by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Funny

    The article neglects to mention the extreme disappointment of John M. Grunsfeld who spent the majority of Mission STS-125 photographing a strange phenomenon he could witness through his window but could not detect on radar. A large knob-shaped object would move about above the atmosphere with an almost supernatural fluidity and change of speeds relative to the Earth. He neglected to mention it to his crewmates hoping that he had stumbled upon either the first contact with alien life or observed a new phenomenon he dubbed in his journal "Grunsfeld's Effect." Unfortunately the engineers at NASA have immortalized his name by calling the stuck debris "Grunsfeld's Knob" or "Grunsfeld's God." The engineers have also started referring to being duped as "being grunsfelded." Example: "I called up to order some of those damn Video Professor instructional DVDs and ended up with 8 of the stupid things. Man did I get Grunsfelded!"

    --
    My work here is dung.
  2. Aren't the windshields replaced all the time? by afidel · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Or is that only an outer protective layer? I know I've seen pictures of the pitting that micrometeors and paint flecks have caused on the Shuttles while in orbit, I just assumed they were made to be easily replaced.

    --
    There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    1. Re:Aren't the windshields replaced all the time? by pz · · Score: 5, Informative

      Or is that only an outer protective layer? I know I've seen pictures of the pitting that micrometeors and paint flecks have caused on the Shuttles while in orbit, I just assumed they were made to be easily replaced.

      The article isn't wholly clear, but implies that there are three layers of glass, only the outer one gets replaced. The inner ones have never been replaced on any shuttle. The innermost one is the most important for retaining the internal pressure, and is the one that has sustained damage.

      And to be clear, if you read the article, it's obvious that the engineers working on this are SERIOUS and have thought of just about anything that slashdot readers have come up with. Drill/cut? Too high risk because of (a) vibrations transmitted to the window and microgrinding of the knob against the window and (b) metallic dust it will generate. Pressurize orbiter? Yep. For some reason, they think they can only get it to +3 PSI. Might help. Apply cold to the knob to shrink it? Yep. They tried dry ice. Didn't work. (My guess is that they'll try liquid nitrogen, too at some point.) They're planning on trying dry ice and pressurization at the same time. Apply downward pressure to the dash with a crobar? Probably very risky because of unknown damage it might cause to dash.

      Once the knob is out, they'll make visual inspection of the remaining surface, including taking microscopic moldings to assess the damage. The pane is tempered, so scratches are a big problem, as they can lead to spontaneous, catastrophic failure.

      --

      Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
    2. Re:Aren't the windshields replaced all the time? by pz · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Excellent and informed analysis. However, I think it is unlikely that "metal" knob could scratch glass. See the Moh hardness scale.

      Hmm. You're saying you know what the knob is made of, and what the surface treatment of that material is? If, for example, it's aluminum with an anodization (as it looks to be in the photo), it may well scratch the glass. Scratching isn't the only issue, though, as if sufficient pressure has been applied, localized microscopic deformation might have occurred as well. If the compression layer of the tempered glass has been breached, the glass will fail. If it has been damaged beyond the stated engineering guidelines, as described in the article, the window will need to be replaced. The close up image in the article shows what appears to be damage to the glass at two points where the glass contacts the knob.

      It's a simple problem that many of us have faced in one situation or another where something small has managed to get wedged where it shouldn't, and requires extraction. The difference here is that there are serious, and potentially highly costly, either in dollars or in human life, or both, potential ramifications to performing the extraction badly.

      --

      Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
    3. Re:Aren't the windshields replaced all the time? by DigitAl56K · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Why not spray a sealant around the surrounding materials, lay in an extraction nozzle attached to a pump, pour a mold around it then use a chemical to dissolve the metal, at least the edges of the metal, enough to remove it? No vibrations, no pressure, no crazy coolant or heating solutions. You can pick a site to work on that is least risk, such as the area in contact with the glass (assuming the glass isn't affected by the chemicals dissolving the metal).

  3. Re:physics by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Informative

    why not just put it in a vacuum chamber, warm it up, and slide it on out?

    What, you mean like they discussed in the article? They even came up with a better idea: instead of heating up the whole vessel, just freeze the knob with dry ice!

    The options relating to the application of dry ice to shrink the knob have already been attempted, and failed. However, the same method, along with a pressurization of the Crew Module, may be enough to free the knob from its lodged position.

    The only problem is the amount of pressurization that can be conducted in the OPF is far less than the pressure that played a part in allowing the knob to become embedded in the first place.

    Pressurize crew module and dry ice on knob to TBD (To Be Determined) pressure. Pro's: Could allow for uniform structural deflection to increase gap between pressure pane and dashboard; enough to free up the knob non-destructively. Less potential for inducing further damage to the pane.

    **UPDATE: The above option was selected on Thursday as the opening process for an attempt to remove the knob. The cabin will be pressurized to 3 psid, before an engineer will apply dry ice to the knob. This option is not deemed to be a likely solution, but more so the opening option that avoids additional damage to the window.**

    Although it's lengthy, you should try reading the article next time. The guys at NASA are pretty clever.

    --
    My work here is dung.
  4. Been there done that by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    I know how they feel: Toyota's quoting me $400 to fix a loose sun visor because they have to take the entire @&%#! side of the car apart to get to it.
       

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  5. Dissolve it by rally2xs · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Acid.

    1. Re:Dissolve it by CarpetShark · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't you think dissolving the space shuttle is overkill?

    2. Re:Dissolve it by Anonymous+Struct · · Score: 5, Funny

      Look, do you want the knob back or not?

  6. Re:finally, a use for a dremel tool by Crunchie+Frog · · Score: 5, Funny

    they can borrow mine. I never use it.

    I read your comment before reading your title and assumed you meant your knob.

    --
    --- Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity
  7. You know you should go to bed, when... by Hurricane78 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...you read that as "Stuck Know Causes Serious Windows Damage To Atlantis", and think "How the hell do they know what OS they were using on that sunken island?"

    I just know realized, that even my question does not make any sense...

    --
    Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
  8. Re:Scrap it! by geekprime · · Score: 5, Informative

    Nope sorry p51d007

    Fisher developed the pen at their own expense NASA only had to buy the pens, at the same price the general public could I might add.

    You know, just a little research would keep you from looking quite so stupid.
    As a personal note you might try not being an ass, just for fun.

    re: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen
    NASA never approached Paul Fisher to develop a pen, nor did Fisher receive any government funding for the pen's development. Fisher invented it independently, and then asked NASA to try it. After the introduction of the AG7 Space Pen, both the American and Soviet (later Russian) space agencies adopted it. Previously both the Russian and American astronauts used grease pencils and plastic slates