NASA reschedules STS-133 launch for February 24
Posted: Wed, Jan 12, 2011, 8:11 AM ET (1311 GMT)
NASA shuttle managers said Tuesday they have determined the root cause of the cracks found in the shuttle Discovery's external tank and believe they can have the shuttle ready to launch next month. Officials said a batch of aluminum-lithium brackets, or "stringers", have a mottled appearance and are weaker that expected, which would explain why several of them suffered cracks when the tank was loaded with propellant. NASA plans to install aluminum plates called radius blocks over the stringers to allow them to handle loads without cracking. That work will be done in time to permit a launch on February 24. That launch date also depends on an on-time launch of a European ATV cargo spacecraft, scheduled to dock with the station on February 23.
NASA shuttle managers said Tuesday they have determined the root cause of the cracks found in the shuttle Discovery's external tank and believe they can have the shuttle ready to launch next month. Officials said a batch of aluminum-lithium brackets, or "stringers", have a mottled appearance and are weaker that expected, which would explain why several of them suffered cracks when the tank was loaded with propellant. NASA plans to install aluminum plates called radius blocks over the stringers to allow them to handle loads without cracking. That work will be done in time to permit a launch on February 24. That launch date also depends on an on-time launch of a European ATV cargo spacecraft, scheduled to dock with the station on February 23.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Vast signs contract with SpaceX for ISS private astronaut missions
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:59 AM ET (1659 GMT) Avio signs ESA contracts for Vega upgrades and Earth science satellite launch
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:57 AM ET (1657 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, December 26
Buy SpaceX Stock With Ease, But Beware The Risks
Forbes.com — 7:35 am ET (1235 GMT) ESA Enlists Portuguese Navy Submarine to Prepare for Deep Space
European Spaceflight — 7:22 am ET (1222 GMT) Has CNES Opened the Door for a European Space Station?
European Spaceflight — 7:21 am ET (1221 GMT) Scientists await signal from spacecraft after historic close encounter with the sun
NPR — 7:19 am ET (1219 GMT) Summer read: Cosmic Catastrophes
Cosmos Magazine — 7:18 am ET (1218 GMT) |
