NASA puts a hold on additional shuttle tank modifications
Posted: Sat, Apr 29, 2006, 10:31 AM ET (1431 GMT)
Shuttle managers announced Friday that they have decided to leave in place a number of foam ramps on the shuttle's external tank, deciding that the risks associated with making additional changes to the tank outweighed the risk of foam falling off the ramps. The "ice/frost" ramps are located on pressurization line fittings on the tank and could be a source of some of the foam that has fallen off the tank during shuttle launches. While some within NASA argued that the ramps should be removed, NASA decided it would make "one change at a time" to the tank, with the focus on the removal of much larger PAL foam ramps on the tank. Engineers are still working on an aerodynamic analysis of the tank without the ramps. A decision on whether or not to remove the ramps is not expected before a flight readiness review on June 16. Discovery is still scheduled for launch on mission STS-121 during a launch window that opens July 1.
Shuttle managers announced Friday that they have decided to leave in place a number of foam ramps on the shuttle's external tank, deciding that the risks associated with making additional changes to the tank outweighed the risk of foam falling off the ramps. The "ice/frost" ramps are located on pressurization line fittings on the tank and could be a source of some of the foam that has fallen off the tank during shuttle launches. While some within NASA argued that the ramps should be removed, NASA decided it would make "one change at a time" to the tank, with the focus on the removal of much larger PAL foam ramps on the tank. Engineers are still working on an aerodynamic analysis of the tank without the ramps. A decision on whether or not to remove the ramps is not expected before a flight readiness review on June 16. Discovery is still scheduled for launch on mission STS-121 during a launch window that opens July 1.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Senate committee advances Isaacman nomination to lead NASA
Posted: Sun, May 4 10:23 AM ET (1423 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, May 9
Starlink’s launch in India now a matter of when, not if
TechCrunch — 6:27 am ET (1027 GMT) Musk’s Starlink Edges Closer to India Launch with Government Approval
IndUS Business Journal — 6:26 am ET (1026 GMT) SPACECOM Wants to Be Dynamic in Orbit. The Question Is How
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 6:24 am ET (1024 GMT) 'Ludicrous': Why South Texas locals have beef with FAA over Starbase launches
San Antonio Express-News — 6:23 am ET (1023 GMT) Italy’s Air Force chief champions commercial satellite integration
Decode39 — 6:23 am ET (1023 GMT) |
