Shuttle Inspections

Why do they do this twice? Is it for redundancy or are they
inspecting for unknown collision damage during the time the
shuttle is docked at the ISS? Or maybe a different type of
inspection?


Early Monday, Atlantis astronauts attached a boom to the
shuttle's robotic arm and started an inspection for damage
to the shuttle's wings and nose. This is part of the
post-Columbia accident routine for shuttles, in which
astronauts look for the type of heat shield cuts and tears
that caused the fatal shuttle accident in 2003.

The inspection was being conducted by pilot Chris Ferguson
and astronauts Dan Burbank and Steve MacLean while the
shuttle stayed about 50 miles away from the station in the
same relative orbit. If the astronauts find the type of
damage that could cause a deadly accident, the shuttle can
return to the station. Earlier inspections showed the heat
shield was in good condition.

FluckIt wrote:
Why do they do this twice?

They're looking for MMOD (micrometeoroid/orbiting debris) damage that
might have occured during the flight.

Lee Jay

"FluckIt" wrote in message
...
Why do they do this twice? Is it for redundancy or are they inspecting for
unknown collision damage during the time the shuttle is docked at the ISS?
Or maybe a different type of inspection?

Because the TPS could be damaged by micrometeorites, or other debris, while
in orbit. The shuttle windows have shown small damage in the past. Even a
small nick in the RCC can prove deadly if it goes through the outer coating
which prevents oxidation. On re-entry, hot oxygen would get into the nick
and start oxidizing (burning) the RCC.

Jeff
--
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a
little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor
safety"
- B. Franklin, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations (1919)

I think they want to know if anything in orbit has caused damage. After all,
besides the safety of current craft, they are designing new hardware, and
you need to know what your problems might be before you start, not bodge on
fixes later!

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
"FluckIt" wrote in message
...
Why do they do this twice? Is it for redundancy or are they inspecting for
unknown collision damage during the time the shuttle is docked at the ISS?
Or maybe a different type of inspection?


Early Monday, Atlantis astronauts attached a boom to the shuttle's robotic
arm and started an inspection for damage to the shuttle's wings and nose.
This is part of the post-Columbia accident routine for shuttles, in which
astronauts look for the type of heat shield cuts and tears that caused the
fatal shuttle accident in 2003.

The inspection was being conducted by pilot Chris Ferguson and astronauts
Dan Burbank and Steve MacLean while the shuttle stayed about 50 miles away
from the station in the same relative orbit. If the astronauts find the
type of damage that could cause a deadly accident, the shuttle can return
to the station. Earlier inspections showed the heat shield was in good
condition.

in article , Jeff Findley at
wrote on 9/18/06 7:02 AM:

"FluckIt" wrote in message
...

Why do they do this twice? Is it for redundancy or are they inspecting for
unknown collision damage during the time the shuttle is docked at the ISS? Or
maybe a different type of inspection?

Because the TPS could be damaged by micrometeorites, or other debris, while in
orbit. The shuttle windows have shown small damage in the past. Even a small
nick in the RCC can prove deadly if it goes through the outer coating which
prevents oxidation. On re-entry, hot oxygen would get into the nick and start
oxidizing (burning) the RCC.

How could a small nick "prove" to be deadly when a grapefruit sized hole
made it more than half way to wheel stop?

George Evans

Danny Dot wrote:

"George Evans" wrote in message
...
in article , Jeff Findley at
wrote on 9/18/06 7:02 AM:

"FluckIt" wrote in message
...

Why do they do this twice? Is it for redundancy or are they inspecting
for
unknown collision damage during the time the shuttle is docked at the
ISS? Or
maybe a different type of inspection?

Because the TPS could be damaged by micrometeorites, or other debris,
while in
orbit. The shuttle windows have shown small damage in the past. Even a
small
nick in the RCC can prove deadly if it goes through the outer coating
which
prevents oxidation. On re-entry, hot oxygen would get into the nick and
start
oxidizing (burning) the RCC.

How could a small nick "prove" to be deadly when a grapefruit sized hole
made it more than half way to wheel stop?


Columbia only made it to about Mach 18, it started entry at about Mach 25.
It was no where close to making it all of the way. It had LOTS of high heat
yet to go through. I agree that a much smaller hole could be a disaster.
Keep in mind that behind the heat sheilding is aluminum that melts a very
low temperature.

Danny Dot