NASA puts a hold on additional shuttle tank modifications
Posted: Sat, Apr 29, 2006, 10:31 AM ET (1431 GMT)
Shuttle managers announced Friday that they have decided to leave in place a number of foam ramps on the shuttle's external tank, deciding that the risks associated with making additional changes to the tank outweighed the risk of foam falling off the ramps. The "ice/frost" ramps are located on pressurization line fittings on the tank and could be a source of some of the foam that has fallen off the tank during shuttle launches. While some within NASA argued that the ramps should be removed, NASA decided it would make "one change at a time" to the tank, with the focus on the removal of much larger PAL foam ramps on the tank. Engineers are still working on an aerodynamic analysis of the tank without the ramps. A decision on whether or not to remove the ramps is not expected before a flight readiness review on June 16. Discovery is still scheduled for launch on mission STS-121 during a launch window that opens July 1.
Shuttle managers announced Friday that they have decided to leave in place a number of foam ramps on the shuttle's external tank, deciding that the risks associated with making additional changes to the tank outweighed the risk of foam falling off the ramps. The "ice/frost" ramps are located on pressurization line fittings on the tank and could be a source of some of the foam that has fallen off the tank during shuttle launches. While some within NASA argued that the ramps should be removed, NASA decided it would make "one change at a time" to the tank, with the focus on the removal of much larger PAL foam ramps on the tank. Engineers are still working on an aerodynamic analysis of the tank without the ramps. A decision on whether or not to remove the ramps is not expected before a flight readiness review on June 16. Discovery is still scheduled for launch on mission STS-121 during a launch window that opens July 1.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA releases report on Starliner crewed test flight problems
Posted: Sun, Feb 22 11:45 AM ET (1645 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 22
Exolaunch Successfully Integrates Five Satellites with 'Spectrum' launch vehicle Ahead of Second Isar Aerospace Launch, A Landmark Mission for European and German Launch Sovereignty
Exolaunch — 5:51 pm ET (2251 GMT) Sateliot and PLD Space sign first commercial contract for a dedicated launch of two Tritó satellites with MIURA 5
PLD Space — 5:49 pm ET (2249 GMT) What cold-water geysers on Earth reveal about the habitability of ocean worlds
PSI — 5:48 pm ET (2248 GMT) AAC Clyde Space ships VIREON satellites for launch
AAC Clyde Space — 5:48 pm ET (2248 GMT) Crosshill Joins as Space ISAC Member
Space ISAC — 5:43 pm ET (2243 GMT) |
