Following the malignant damage caused to Atlantis’s critical heat shield while it’s lift-off, NASA space researchers are looking forward to assign shuttle-repairing chores to the Atlantis crewmembers. The heat shield was damaged at the rear portion of the Spacecraft. The NASA scientists have also cleared out the fact that this assignment may be one of the most challenging tasks uptill now.
This was also made public by John Shannon, deputy shuttle program manager NASA, that while Atlantis was lifting off from it’s base station, strong aerodynamic forces acting on the space shuttle hurled off a 4-inch-by-6-inch corner of a heat-shielding blanket.
This heat-shielding blanket is of utmost importance as it guards the engine casing located at the left-most portion of the shuttle tail. It protects the Atlantis from extremely high temperature variations up to 1000 degrees. The damage caused to the tail of Atlantis came into judgment during a scheduled checkup of the space shuttle.
This checkup technique incorporates some very high-precision equipments that use Lasers and high-speed cameras. Shannon also made clear that the danger might get impractical to handle if the adequate reinstallation measures are not taken right away.
He also opines:
The better part of valor was to … secure it and not worry about it anymore.
The danger of the removal of this heat shield can be judged from the fact that in 2003 a same hole was caused on the space shuttle Columbia’s heat shield, and thus during reentry back on Earth, the space shuttle blew off killing all of the seven crewmembers aboard. NASA will never forget a catastrophe like this one.
Therefore, keeping every point in consideration NASA seems to leave not a single stone unturned in order to repair the Atlantis in flight. One of the NASA’s key astronauts, Stephen Robinson, rode on to the shuttle’s robotic arm in the wake of removing a piece of filler material sticking out of the heat shield. Shannon is of the view that if the astronauts incorporate the shuttle’s robotic arm their chore will be finished in a matter of 90 minutes.
The scientists would assist the astronauts with guidance and would help coordinating their maneuvers. Engineers are carrying out experimental calculations to judge the exact feasibility of this mission in space. Astronauts will tuck in the heat shield blankets back on to the shuttle’s body with the help of strong pins/bolts.
Shannon also remarked that -
Tucking the blanket looks like it’s going to be pretty easy to do, so it’s a pretty easy decision.
The space shuttle’s space walkers accomplished their first space walk on Monday that dealt with the transportation of a $367 million girder to the International Space Station.
This girder would ensure the accuracy in the Space station’s name. So, it has been made clear that astronauts from around the globe would be able to stay in the wake of their expeditions and space explorations. Currently American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts stay there. The girder and the huge solar energy panels would ensure proper and adequate energy production that would make possible the addition of European and Japanese rooms in the space station, ISS.
The astronauts, James Reilly and John “Danny” Olivas, seemed all set well in advance that they just browsed through their to-do list and were off to their respective chores. This way they were one hour ahead of their projected schedule.
They steadily opened solar panel boxes, connected power and the data cables / buses that would feed the newly installed girder. This time they also had an advantage of not jamming their shuttle’s bolts. We all know this fact that the space walkers are mentally and physically strong but the way Reilly said that, made it look pretty easy to me.
He said -
That was easy.
He also commented that -
Sounds like a great plan. I can get a cup of coffee.
Via: Usatoday
