Shuttle pad damaged during launch
Posted: Tue, Jun 3, 2008, 8:03 AM ET (1203 GMT)
The launch pad used for Saturday's launch of the space shuttle Discovery sustained "significant" damage during liftoff, although NASA officials said they believed the damage could be repaired in time for the next mission this October. A large section of concrete lining the pad's flame trench blew out during launch, scattering chunks of debris around the launch site, all the way to a security fence several hundred meters away. None of the debris damaged the shuttle. What caused the damage to the flame trench, the worst in the history of the shuttle program, is unclear. Both pad 39A and 39B have to be in working order for the next launch, a Hubble Space Telescope repair mission, since a rescue shuttle would be prepared on the other pad.
The launch pad used for Saturday's launch of the space shuttle Discovery sustained "significant" damage during liftoff, although NASA officials said they believed the damage could be repaired in time for the next mission this October. A large section of concrete lining the pad's flame trench blew out during launch, scattering chunks of debris around the launch site, all the way to a security fence several hundred meters away. None of the debris damaged the shuttle. What caused the damage to the flame trench, the worst in the history of the shuttle program, is unclear. Both pad 39A and 39B have to be in working order for the next launch, a Hubble Space Telescope repair mission, since a rescue shuttle would be prepared on the other pad.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, September 17
Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites scheduled for Wednesday morning
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) Colorado Springs springs into action amid loss of Space Command
Washington Times — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) SpaceX rocket-launching license survives NEPA challenge
POLITICO — 1:30 am ET (0530 GMT) SpaceX Eyes First Starship Version 3 Launch In ’25 Or ’26
Aviation Week — 1:29 am ET (0529 GMT) Judge dismisses suit challenging SpaceX's Starship approval
Houston Chronicle — 1:28 am ET (0528 GMT) |
