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
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, March 17
INNOSPACE Identifies Cause of HANBIT-Nano Mission Termination Through Joint Investigation with Brazil’s CENIPA
INNOspace — 5:27 am ET (0927 GMT) ESA-enabled helical antenna innovations boost space-based connectivity
ESA — 5:27 am ET (0927 GMT) Innospace Identifies Gas Leak as Cause of Aborted Launch
Chosun Ilbo — 5:24 am ET (0924 GMT) Canada Leases Space Port in Bid to Break Reliance on US Rockets Like Musk’s SpaceX
Bloomberg News — 5:22 am ET (0922 GMT) 'Big Short' investor Michael Burry flags criticism of proposed rule change to fast-track SpaceX joining the Nasdaq
Business Insider — 5:21 am ET (0921 GMT) |
