spacetoday.net: NASA to repair shuttle external tank insulation

NASA to repair shuttle external tank insulation

Posted: Sat, Aug 25, 2007, 9:03 AM ET (1303 GMT)
STS-120: external tank (NASA/KSC)

NASA plans to repair insulation on several shuttle external tanks to prevent foam shedding that damaged tiles on the Endeavour earlier this month. Inspection of tanks that have been built for use on future missions found cracks in a layer of insulation surrounding a fuel line bracket on the tank. Engineers believe those cracks could cause the foam on the tank's exterior to break loose during launch and strike the orbiter, similar to what happened during the launch of Endeavour earlier this month. The repairs are not expected to delay the next shuttle launch, STS-120, scheduled for October 23.