NASA plans gap filler repair after successful gyro work
Posted: Tue, Aug 2, 2005, 4:32 AM ET (0832 GMT)
Hours after astronauts successfully replaced a gyroscope on the International Space Station, NASA officials said late Monday that spacewalkers would attempt repairs to "gap fillers" on the underside of shuttle Discovery later this week. According to the current plan, astronaut Steve Robinson, attached to the end of the shuttle's robot arm, will venture to the underside of the orbiter and pull out or cut two gap fillers protruding from between tiles there. Engineers are concerned that the gap fillers, made of ceramic cloth, could disrupt the flow of air during reentry, creating turbulent heating that could damage the orbiter. The repairs will take place during a previously-scheduled EVA planned for Wednesday. That decision came after Robinson and Soichi Noguchi completed the second spacewalk of the mission. During that EVA the two astronauts replaced a failed gyroscope on the ISS that provides attitude control for the station.
Hours after astronauts successfully replaced a gyroscope on the International Space Station, NASA officials said late Monday that spacewalkers would attempt repairs to "gap fillers" on the underside of shuttle Discovery later this week. According to the current plan, astronaut Steve Robinson, attached to the end of the shuttle's robot arm, will venture to the underside of the orbiter and pull out or cut two gap fillers protruding from between tiles there. Engineers are concerned that the gap fillers, made of ceramic cloth, could disrupt the flow of air during reentry, creating turbulent heating that could damage the orbiter. The repairs will take place during a previously-scheduled EVA planned for Wednesday. That decision came after Robinson and Soichi Noguchi completed the second spacewalk of the mission. During that EVA the two astronauts replaced a failed gyroscope on the ISS that provides attitude control for the station.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 12
Final ‘go’ for Vega launch
ESA — 10:27 am ET (1527 GMT) Our spaceship has arrived: Museum of Flight takes delivery of Soyuz capsule
GeekWire — 9:01 am ET (1401 GMT) Glenn reflects on his mission, future of space
Zanesville (OH) Times-Recorder — 8:59 am ET (1359 GMT) A lawyer's idea of marketing
Las Cruces (NM) Sun-News — 8:59 am ET (1359 GMT) 'Hang me for so-called omission... but let them go through democratic process'
Indian Express — 8:57 am ET (1357 GMT) |