This morning during removal of external fuel tank foam insulation, which cracked during draining operations following the shuttle Discovery’s launch scrub on Nov. 5., technicians identified two cracks on a section of the tank’s metal exterior. They were found on the stringer, which is the composite aluminium ring located on the top of the tank’s intertank area. The cracks are approximately 9 inches long. Engineers are reviewing images of the cracks to determine the best possible repair method, which would be done at Launch Pad 39A.
Crews have repaired similar cracks during external tank production by removing the cracked aluminium and replacing it with a “doubler,” which is a twice-as-thick stringer section before replacing the foam insulation.
Exact schedules and repair options still are being evaluated.
The STS-133 mission seems cursed.
Watch the original leaked thermal images here. [NASA]
Nodeity
Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 11:37 AMGiven the Shuttles track record, I’d definitely have to think twice before travelling on it. They should have scrapped it for something safer and less costly years ago. There’s been a plethora of worthy candidates including a more robust version of spaceship one which would have done the job. The Americans really do need to cut out some of the dead wood running their space program!!