Translated by: Eli Ben David
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As it deals with resuming shuttle flights after the Columbia disaster, the space agency released an internal report Friday as part of its re-examination of the return-to-flight program.
Revisiting the plan paints a picture of a space agency facing a number of challenging tasks remaining on its "to-do" list before the space shuttles can safely fly again. NASA plans to resume flights in March, 2005.
"We've had significant progress across the board on all the items that we think are necessary for return-to-flight," Wayne Hale, deputy director of the space shuttle program, said in a conference call with reporters. "We have a good schedule, our hands are busy with all the issues we need to address, all the changes that needed to be addressed, and all the work that needs to be done to prepare for the flight," he added.
The shuttle fleet has been grounded since the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated and scattered over Texas during an approach to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on February 1, 2003.
In August, the accident investigation team determined that the disintegration of the insulation foam from the shuttle's external fuel cell during takeoff damaged and cracked the panel of the shuttle's wings, leaving it vulnerable and exposed to the great heat generated upon re-entry into space. Accordingly, the space agency's main challenge is preventing risks of what which they call "critical shrapnel sources", or actually: the insulating foam.
"The real barrier to return to flight is clearly, first of all, the repair of the external tank and that was the main item to return to flight from the beginning," Hale said.
Foam impacts have been observed on most shuttle takeoffs, but before the Columbia disaster engineers believed that the debris was not compressed enough to cause damage.
To reduce the amount of foam and ice that falls from the tank, NASA is redesigning the bipod area where the tank connects to the shuttle, in addition to addressing other systems that may also be damaged by the insulation foam fragments.
NASA is examining more than two hundred million computer simulations of "debris movement cases" to better understand where, how and why it happens, and how to minimize damage to the shuttle.
Another hurdle: the development of means of repair in space, of the panel tiles that protect the shuttle from the scorching heat of the penetration into the atmosphere. Until now, the thermal protection system (TPS - Thermal Protection System) could only be repaired on the ground.
NASA has developed a robotic arm equipped with cameras and other means, which allow inspection and observation of the entire surface of the shuttle, including the underside, for damage inspection. Engineers are working on repair techniques, and escape plans for astronauts to take shelter on the International Space Station while repairs are being made.
In addition, before returning to flight, NASA plans to:
- Renovation of the speed brake rod, suspension in the tail that slows down the movement of the shuttle when landing. In the meantime, a lack of spare parts slows down the work.
- Improving the ability to "image the takeoff" by adding high resolution cameras to view the launch.
- Developing a flight plan for "STS-300", an emergency and rescue mission: NASA plans a second crew and a spacecraft in standby mode, for each mission.
For news on CNN
They knew the Columbia disaster
The book - the crash
Introduction to the report of the commission of inquiry, translated into Hebrew
https://www.hayadan.org.il/BuildaGate4/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~~~836625878~~~188&SiteName=hayadan
