NASA already planning shuttle changes, return to flight
Posted: Sat, Mar 8, 2003, 4:35 PM ET (2135 GMT)
NASA is currently investigating a number of safety improvements to the shuttle program as it eyes a return to flight no later than mid-2004, according to published reports. Florida Today reported Saturday that NASA is working on plans to restart shuttle missions as soon as this July, even though the investigation into the Columbia accident could last for months. NASA hopes to have the shuttle flying again by mid-2004 so it can continue the assembly and normal operations of the International Space Station. To that end, the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday that five safety improvements are already in the works. Those changes include designing the foam insulation around the bipod struts that mate the nose of the shuttle orbiter to the external tank, a location where foam has broken off on previous flights. NASA is also looking at ways to repair tile damage in orbit, improving ground-based observations of shuttle launches, installing additional cameras on the shuttle itself, and making changes to the shuttle's reentry trajectory to reduce heating on critical areas.
NASA is currently investigating a number of safety improvements to the shuttle program as it eyes a return to flight no later than mid-2004, according to published reports. Florida Today reported Saturday that NASA is working on plans to restart shuttle missions as soon as this July, even though the investigation into the Columbia accident could last for months. NASA hopes to have the shuttle flying again by mid-2004 so it can continue the assembly and normal operations of the International Space Station. To that end, the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday that five safety improvements are already in the works. Those changes include designing the foam insulation around the bipod struts that mate the nose of the shuttle orbiter to the external tank, a location where foam has broken off on previous flights. NASA is also looking at ways to repair tile damage in orbit, improving ground-based observations of shuttle launches, installing additional cameras on the shuttle itself, and making changes to the shuttle's reentry trajectory to reduce heating on critical areas.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Thales and Airbus to build next-generation radar imaging satellites
Posted: Sat, Jun 13 10:02 AM ET (1402 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, June 15
China's Lijian-1 rocket sends 8 satellites into orbit
CGTN — 5:39 am ET (0939 GMT) Lithuania to host European Space Education Resource Office
LRT — 5:39 am ET (0939 GMT) Russia’s satellite moves push Europe to rethink space defense
TVP World — 5:38 am ET (0938 GMT) SpaceX to launch rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base Monday morning
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 5:36 am ET (0936 GMT) Emboldened by SpaceX, Investors Are Piling Into All Things Space
Wall Street Journal — 5:33 am ET (0933 GMT) |
