spacetoday.net: NASA decides against shuttle repairs

NASA decides against shuttle repairs

Posted: Fri, Aug 17, 2007, 10:55 AM ET (1455 GMT)
STS-118: tile gouge on underside of shuttle (NASA)

Shuttle managers decided late Thursday not to repair damaged tiles on the underside of the shuttle Endeavour because the damage does not pose a risk to the safety of the crew. Engineers spent the last several studying what effect the gouge would have on the shuttle during reentry, as well as the risks involved with any repair efforts, which would involve an additional spacewalk. Managers concluded any additional heating of the orbiter in the vicinity of the gouge would not exceed safety margins. One engineering group at the Johnson Space Center did recommend that the repair be carried out, not because of safety issues but in order to limit any damage that would have to be repaired after landing.