Shuttle Inspection Reveals Crack In Insulation
Inspectors found a five inch long crack 1/8th of an inch deep i the insulation of the external fuel tank on the shuttle Discovery. Launch plans may be scrubbed.
The crack was spotted during an overnight inspection. NASA had scrubbed launch plans Saturday and Sunday because of poor weather and had removed fuel from the tank.
The inspectors found the crack, which was an eighth of an inch deep, in the foam on a bracket near the top of the external fuel tank.
"We don't know if it's a problem or not," NASA spokesman George Diller said Monday.
Officials were meeting to determine whether it could be fixed for a Tuesday liftoff.
If NASA decides to go ahead with the launch Tuesday, it would be the first manned launch by the United States on the nation's birthday, and only the second liftoff of a space shuttle since the 2003 Columbia disaster.
Concerns about cracks in the fuel tank's foam insulation have dogged the program since Columbia exploded over Texas on Feb. 1, 2003. A chunk of flyaway foam had damaged Columbia's wing during liftoff, allowing superheated gas to penetrate the shuttle when it re-entered the atmosphere.
The non-CFC foam really started the problems with this.
By Roland Hesz, July 4, 2006 @ 1:46 am
One would think they have found something to prevent those cracks.
I know it’s not easy, but better than having 5-7 people dying cause it was only half an inch long, and the inspection missed it – can happen.
By Gaius, July 4, 2006 @ 5:10 am
They had no cracking problem with the CFC foam. They were exempt from the requirements to stop using that.