spacetoday.net: Shuttle suffered wing breaches in 2000, earlier

Updated: Wed, Jul 9, 2003, 2:40 PM ET (1840 GMT)
Originally Posted: Tue, Jul 8, 2003, 8:47 PM ET (0047 GMT)
Hot gases leaked into the space shuttle on several flights prior to STS-107, including as recently as 2000, newly-released NASA documents reveal. According to NASA documents the Associated Press obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, a leak in a "butterfly gap filler", or seal between two panels on the left wing, allowed small amounts of hot gas to leak into the wing of the shuttle Atlantis during reentry on the STS-101 mission in May 2000. The leak caused some discoloration of the exterior of the panels, as well as covering some internal components with a glassy material thought to be melted tile and sealant material, although there was no damage to the orbiter's structure. Engineers determined that the seal was improperly installed during a shuttle overhaul in 1997, and NASA ordered that the seals be reinspected before the shuttle flew again in September 2000. Members of the STS-101 crew told the AP they don't recall being told of the damage after the mission ended. Florida Today reported Wednesday that similar leaks occurred during flights of the shuttle Columbia on STS-2 in November 1981 and STS-5 one year later. In both cases hot gasses caused minor damage to insulation but not to the structure of the wing.