Media Invited To See Space Shuttle Atlantis Preparations

Melissa Motichek
Headquarters, Washington September 23, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1272)

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

NOTE TO EDITORS: 03-094

MEDIA INVITED TO SEE SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PREPARATIONS

The media is invited to tour the Orbiter Processing
Facility (OPF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and to
see the Space Shuttle Atlantis, as it is prepared for Return
to Flight. The tour is Friday, Sept. 26.

Reporters will see work in progress on Atlantis, including
the reinstallation of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels on
the Shuttle's wing leading edge; wiring inspections; and
checks of the Shuttle's engines in the Orbital Maneuvering
System. NASA Vehicle Manager Scott Thurston will be
available to discuss the work and answer questions.

The tour is divided into three sessions. The first departs
the KSC Press Site at 9 a.m. EDT and is reserved for TV
reporters and videographers. The next two sessions, designed
for print reporters and still photographers, leave the press
site at approximately 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Space is limited.
Access will be granted on a first-requested basis and
limited to two persons per organization.

Media who want to attend this event must contact the KSC
Press Site (321/867-2468) by close of business Wednesday.
The sessions will not be carried on NASA Television.

Media without KSC credentials should submit their requests
via fax (321/867-2692) and include the following
information:
? Full legal name
? Title
? Organization
? Address
? Telephone number
? Date of birth
? Place of birth
? Social security number
? Country of citizenship

Since the OPF is an operational facility that deals in
hazardous materials, all who enter must be properly dressed
in long pants and closed-toe shoes with low heels.
Sleeveless shirts are not allowed.

For the latest information on NASA's Return to Flight
efforts on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


-end-

(Ron Baalke) wrote in message ...
Melissa Motichek
Headquarters, Washington September 23, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1272)

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

NOTE TO EDITORS: 03-094

MEDIA INVITED TO SEE SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PREPARATIONS

Reporters will see work in progress on Atlantis, including
the reinstallation of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels on
the Shuttle's wing leading edge ...

I hope these reporters ask the obvious questions as they
watch the hardware that failed on Columbia being attached,
unmodified, to the next orbiter scheduled to fly...

- Ed Kyle

In article ,
(ed kyle) wrote:

(Ron Baalke) wrote in message
...
Melissa Motichek
Headquarters, Washington September 23, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1272)

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

NOTE TO EDITORS: 03-094

MEDIA INVITED TO SEE SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PREPARATIONS

Reporters will see work in progress on Atlantis, including
the reinstallation of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels on
the Shuttle's wing leading edge ...

I hope these reporters ask the obvious questions as they
watch the hardware that failed on Columbia being attached,
unmodified, to the next orbiter scheduled to fly...

- Ed Kyle

I hope, instead, they ask if the ET foam shedding - the issue that
CAUSED that hardware to fail - has been resolved.

Pointing fingers at the RCC for not surviving launch conditions it was
never supposed to encounter isn't particularly constructive (or fair to
the designers of the RCC and wing leading edge components).

--
Herb Schaltegger, B.S., J.D.
Reformed Aerospace Engineer
"Heisenberg might have been here."
~ Anonymous

On 24 Sep 2003 07:07:57 -0700, (ed kyle) wrote:


Reporters will see work in progress on Atlantis, including
the reinstallation of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels on
the Shuttle's wing leading edge ...

I hope these reporters ask the obvious questions as they
watch the hardware that failed on Columbia being attached,
unmodified, to the next orbiter scheduled to fly...

The RCC was the victim, not the cause. Its specs clearly read "no
debris impacts allowed."

Brian

The RCC was the victim, not the cause. Its specs clearly read "no
debris impacts allowed."

Brian

BUT. Since its clear they can be damaged or destroyed they should be redesigned
BEFORE return to flight.

This rush to save NASA by flying fast is likely to kill the organization long
term.

If we have another accident LOTS of questions are going to be asked. NASA
better have some good answers for things like....

Not redesigning RCC before return to flight.No quick emergency supplies to
orbit Not reviewing and requalifying all safety waivers etc etc etc.

They arent doing enough...

Herb Schaltegger wrote in message ...
In article ,
(ed kyle) wrote:

(Ron Baalke) wrote in message
...
Melissa Motichek
Headquarters, Washington September 23, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1272)

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

NOTE TO EDITORS: 03-094

MEDIA INVITED TO SEE SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PREPARATIONS

Reporters will see work in progress on Atlantis, including
the reinstallation of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels on
the Shuttle's wing leading edge ...

I hope these reporters ask the obvious questions as they
watch the hardware that failed on Columbia being attached,
unmodified, to the next orbiter scheduled to fly...

- Ed Kyle

I hope, instead, they ask if the ET foam shedding - the issue that
CAUSED that hardware to fail - has been resolved.

Pointing fingers at the RCC for not surviving launch conditions it was
never supposed to encounter isn't particularly constructive (or fair to
the designers of the RCC and wing leading edge components).

A good reporter would ask the question: Are you going to fly this
thing without "beefing up" the RCC as recommended by the CAIB in its
final report? It is a fair question.

If the answer is "RCC was not designed to survive the hit it took,"
then the follow-up questions should be: "Could it be re-engineered
to take such hits, or even to take smaller hits? If not, is it
possible to add a back-up insulation system in case RCC is breached
in the future?"

- Ed Kyle

Brian Thorn wrote in message . ..
On 24 Sep 2003 07:07:57 -0700, (ed kyle) wrote:


Reporters will see work in progress on Atlantis, including
the reinstallation of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels on
the Shuttle's wing leading edge ...

I hope these reporters ask the obvious questions as they
watch the hardware that failed on Columbia being attached,
unmodified, to the next orbiter scheduled to fly...

The RCC was the victim, not the cause. Its specs clearly read "no
debris impacts allowed."


I think the second CAIB recommendation, after reducing ET shedding,
was to beef up the RCC. Referring to a flawed original spec is not
going to satisfy a good science reporter.

- Ed Kyle