NASA suspends shuttle launches
Posted: Wed, Jul 27, 2005, 11:18 PM ET (0318 GMT)
Shuttle officials announced late Wednesday that they would not launch the shuttle again until they understood why a large chunk of foam fell off the shuttle's external tank during Tuesday's launch of Discovery. The largest piece of foam, estimated at nearly 90 centimeters across, did not strike the shuttle during its ascent. The foam appeared to come off from a ramp on the external tank designed to improve the aerodynamics around external cables. A piece of foam fell of the external tank during Columbia's launch two and a half years ago, causing damage to a wing leading edge panel that caused the shuttle to break apart upon reentry. Managers said that they don't know how long it will take to understand and resolve the problem. The next shuttle mission, STS-121, had been scheduled for launch in September assuming a successful flight by Discovery.
Shuttle officials announced late Wednesday that they would not launch the shuttle again until they understood why a large chunk of foam fell off the shuttle's external tank during Tuesday's launch of Discovery. The largest piece of foam, estimated at nearly 90 centimeters across, did not strike the shuttle during its ascent. The foam appeared to come off from a ramp on the external tank designed to improve the aerodynamics around external cables. A piece of foam fell of the external tank during Columbia's launch two and a half years ago, causing damage to a wing leading edge panel that caused the shuttle to break apart upon reentry. Managers said that they don't know how long it will take to understand and resolve the problem. The next shuttle mission, STS-121, had been scheduled for launch in September assuming a successful flight by Discovery.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
New Virgin Galactic spaceplane arrives at Spaceport America
Posted: Sat, Oct 31 10:38 AM ET (1438 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, November 2
Forum: Springs’ space future is bright without Space Command
Colorado Springs Gazette — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) S. Korea's Air Force to participate in U.S.-led space war game for 1st time
Yonhap News — 5:35 am ET (1035 GMT) The growing threats that make the Space Force essential
Washington Examiner — 5:33 am ET (1033 GMT) Lawfare against Elon Musk could affect the Artemis program
The Hill — 5:26 am ET (1026 GMT) Southland's global space company won't write down military policy
The Southland App (NZ) — 5:25 am ET (1025 GMT) |
