Shuttle fuel line cracks could delay future missions
Posted: Mon, Jun 24, 2002, 7:31 AM ET (1131 GMT)
The discovery of cracks in the fuel lines of one shuttle orbiter could result in inspections and repairs that would delay several upcoming missions, Florida Today reported this weekend. Inspections of the shuttle Atlantis revealed at least three small cracks in the liner of a hydrogen fuel line in the orbiter. The fuel line was in no danger of leaking, and shuttle engineers and managers are deciding how, or even if, the line should be repaired. Atlantis is scheduled to launch on August 22 on the STS-112 ISS assembly mission. No decision has been made yet whether to inspect the other orbiters, including Columbia scheduled to launch on July 19 on the STS-107 dedicated research mission.
The discovery of cracks in the fuel lines of one shuttle orbiter could result in inspections and repairs that would delay several upcoming missions, Florida Today reported this weekend. Inspections of the shuttle Atlantis revealed at least three small cracks in the liner of a hydrogen fuel line in the orbiter. The fuel line was in no danger of leaking, and shuttle engineers and managers are deciding how, or even if, the line should be repaired. Atlantis is scheduled to launch on August 22 on the STS-112 ISS assembly mission. No decision has been made yet whether to inspect the other orbiters, including Columbia scheduled to launch on July 19 on the STS-107 dedicated research mission.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, February 11
Jet Propulsion Laboratory anticipating major cuts in NASA budget
KPCC-FM Pasadena, CA — 4:06 pm ET (2106 GMT) Satellites spot Syrian violence from space
Spaceflight Now — 4:05 pm ET (2105 GMT) One giant leap for former fast-food joint
Mountain View (CA) Voice — 4:04 pm ET (2104 GMT) Orion hoping for success with second generation parachute system
NasaSpaceFlight.com — 8:53 am ET (1353 GMT) Small company is sky-high
Santa Maria (CA) Times — 8:01 am ET (1301 GMT) |