NASA plans for May shuttle launch
Posted: Sat, Oct 15, 2005, 11:08 AM ET (1508 GMT)
NASA shuttle managers said Friday they believed they could have the shuttle ready for its next launch in May 2006 after gaining a better understanding of what caused the loss of foam during July's launch. An agency "tiger team" studying the problem believes that the foam came off during flight in part because of inadvertent damage to the foam by technicians working on the tank. A change in the foam formulation on the tank's PAL ramp, where foam came off during Discovery's launch in July, may have also played a role. NASA has not set an official launch date for the shuttle but is informally targeting a launch window that runs from May 3-23; after that, the next launch window opens at the beginning of July. Shuttle managers were optimistic that they could launch during the May window despite losing up to three months of work because of the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where the shuttle's external tanks are built.
NASA shuttle managers said Friday they believed they could have the shuttle ready for its next launch in May 2006 after gaining a better understanding of what caused the loss of foam during July's launch. An agency "tiger team" studying the problem believes that the foam came off during flight in part because of inadvertent damage to the foam by technicians working on the tank. A change in the foam formulation on the tank's PAL ramp, where foam came off during Discovery's launch in July, may have also played a role. NASA has not set an official launch date for the shuttle but is informally targeting a launch window that runs from May 3-23; after that, the next launch window opens at the beginning of July. Shuttle managers were optimistic that they could launch during the May window despite losing up to three months of work because of the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where the shuttle's external tanks are built.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Retired Air Force officer nominated to be NASA deputy administrator
Posted: Sat, May 10 9:44 AM ET (1344 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, May 12
To beat China, keep Space Command fully operational
Washington Examiner — 6:19 am ET (1019 GMT) Spaceships on the Beach
Native News Online — 6:17 am ET (1017 GMT) Taiwan Struggles To Replace SpaceX In Satcom Plan
Aviation Week — 6:16 am ET (1016 GMT) India fast-tracks $3-billion spy satellite scheme following Operation Sindoor | Today News
livemint — 6:13 am ET (1013 GMT) At least 10 satellites working to ensure safety and security of India: ISRO Chief V Narayanan
ANI — 6:11 am ET (1011 GMT) |
