Shuttle passes initial inspection
Posted: Thu, Jul 6, 2006, 8:33 AM ET (1233 GMT)
Surveys of the exterior of the space shuttle Discovery turned up no evidence of damage to the orbiter's tiles and panels, clearing the way for a docking with the International Space Station on Thursday morning. The STS-121 crew used a boom-mounted camera, held by the shuttle's robot arm, to scan the exterior of the shuttle, finding no evidence of damage to the shuttle caused by falling foam during Tuesday's launch. Exterior cameras during the launch saw only a few small pieces of foam come off the tank as the shuttle headed into orbit, none of which appeared to strike the orbiter. The inspection did reveal one "gapfiller" protruding between tiles on the underside of the orbiter, but unlike the STS-114 mission last year, the gapfiller is not in a critical location and there are no plans to remove it during an EVA. Discovery is scheduled to dock with the ISS at about 10:52 am EDT (1452 GMT). One hour before docking the shuttle will perform a "backflip maneuver" to allow the ISS crew to photograph the underside of the shuttle as an additional inspection for any damage.
Surveys of the exterior of the space shuttle Discovery turned up no evidence of damage to the orbiter's tiles and panels, clearing the way for a docking with the International Space Station on Thursday morning. The STS-121 crew used a boom-mounted camera, held by the shuttle's robot arm, to scan the exterior of the shuttle, finding no evidence of damage to the shuttle caused by falling foam during Tuesday's launch. Exterior cameras during the launch saw only a few small pieces of foam come off the tank as the shuttle headed into orbit, none of which appeared to strike the orbiter. The inspection did reveal one "gapfiller" protruding between tiles on the underside of the orbiter, but unlike the STS-114 mission last year, the gapfiller is not in a critical location and there are no plans to remove it during an EVA. Discovery is scheduled to dock with the ISS at about 10:52 am EDT (1452 GMT). One hour before docking the shuttle will perform a "backflip maneuver" to allow the ISS crew to photograph the underside of the shuttle as an additional inspection for any damage.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, September 16
Russia’s Starlink Rival “Rassvet” Fails to Reach Target Orbit 6 Months After Launch
United24 Media — 1:10 am ET (0510 GMT) Newly proposed U.S. Space Academy belongs in Huntsville, Alabama lawmakers say
Huntsville Times — 1:09 am ET (0509 GMT) North Alabama leaders pitch Huntsville to Space Command personnel at transition seminar
WAFF-TV — 1:08 am ET (0508 GMT) Air Force secretary admits US weapons are stationed in outer space
Washington Examiner — 1:06 am ET (0506 GMT) Budget impasse imperils 1 in 10 Space Force programs, new chief says
Breaking Defense — 1:04 am ET (0504 GMT) |
