Atlantis Crew Finds Minor Tile Damage
Jefferson Morris jeff_morris@AviationWeek.com
Frank Morring, Jr. morring@aviationweek.com
The shuttle Atlantis suffered minor damage to ceramic tiles on a portion of its right wing as a result of launch debris during ascent, and NASA is now trying to gather more imagery of the impact and the damaged area.
Thermal protection system inspections by the STS-125 crew with the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) during their first full day in space Tuesday revealed small "dings" in four ceramic tiles at the point where the orbiter's starboard wing meets the fuselage.
Impact sensors in the wing indicated an impact 103 seconds after yesterday's launch from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. This also was corroborated by launch imagery. NASA now plans to try to download images from the external tank umbilical camera to gather more data.
The camera, which images the big foam-covered propellant tank as it falls away to gather information on its condition, worked during the ascent, according to a Johnson Space Center spokesperson. However, an initial attempt to download the imagery Monday night was not successful, and another attempt will be made.
If the imagery can't be obtained, a "focused inspection" with the OBSS may be ordered. If so it will likely take place on Friday, Flight Day 5, in parallel with crew preparation for the five spacewalks that will be needed to repair and service the Hubble Space Telescope.
Early analysis suggested the problem isn't serious, because the tiles in that area are relatively thick and the nicks are "pretty small," according to astronaut Dan Burbank, one of the communicators who speak directly with the Atlantis crew.
Shortly after reaching orbit Monday following their 2:01 p.m. EDT launch, the crew conducted inspections of the orbiter's payload bay and cabin area. Today's inspections of the underside are more extensive than usual, since Atlantis won't be making its now-familiar rendezvous pitch maneuver, which is executed during approaches to the International Space Station and allows station astronauts to take additional pictures of the shuttle's belly.
In the unlikely event any major damage to Atlantis is found, shuttle Endeavour sits on Pad 39B ready to launch within a week to mount a rescue mission. The quick turnaround is needed because Atlantis can't reach the refuge of the station from Hubble's orbit in the event of an emergency.
File photo credit: NASA
