Philosophy
Just reflect for a moment if a similar issue happened on the Moon or on or orbiting Mars.
Astronauts ran into trouble on Saturday while setting up the International Space Station’s newest room, Tranquility: a critical insulating cover does not fit.
The multilayered fabric is supposed to go between Tranquility and its observation deck, but the metal bars are not locking down properly because of interference from a hand rail or some other structure at the hatch.
The flight director, Bob Dempsey, said engineers were trying to figure out how to proceed. Until this snag, everything had been going smoothly in what is NASA’s final major construction job at the space station.
The space shuttle Endeavour delivered Tranquility and its observation deck last week.
The cover is needed to protect Tranquility’s seals and docking mechanisms with the viewing deck from the cold. The port between the two rooms will be briefly exposed when the domed lookout is moved to its permanent location on the other side of Tranquility. That relocation is supposed to happen Sunday, but it may be delayed.
Mr. Dempsey said the astronauts might be asked to remove the interfering pieces or do away with the cover and proceed with the relocation plan. Once the lookout is moved, a docking adapter will take its place so the port would not be exposed for too long, provided nothing else went wrong.
Another option, Mr. Dempsey said, may be to hold off on moving the observation deck until a properly fitting cover can be flown on another shuttle flight.
Only four more shuttle missions remain. The next visit is scheduled for next month.
- Six To Four Astronauts...smart Move
Space Shuttle Atlantis astronauts, from left, Doug Hurley, Rex Walheim, Sandy Magnus and Chris Ferguson after a crew news conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston last month. "Only 4 Fliers for Last Shuttle Launch" by Kenneth Chang July 6th,...
- Fuel Leak On Space Shuttle Discovery
Again a mechanical problem has delayed the shuttle and cost more millions. "Space shuttle launch postponed again" by Irene Klotz August 25th, 2009 Reuters NASA delayed a Wednesday morning liftoff of the space shuttle Discovery because of an apparent...
- Apollo Astronauts Complain
I expected nothing less from "space cowboys". "Apollo astronauts bemoan state of U.S. space program" by Irene Klotz July 21st, 2009 Reuters CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida--The U.S. investment in the Apollo space program, which landed men on the moon, paid...
- Endeavour Is Struck By Debris
Endeavour July 15th, 2009 Still more evidence of the perils of man in space...need I say more. Serious or not...the whole program needs to be reevaluated. "Debris Strikes Endeavour During Liftoff" by Kenneth Chang July 16th, 2009 The New York Times ...
- Shuttle Discovery Is Ready To Go...finally
At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician holds one of Discovery’s gaseous hydrogen flow control valves after its removal. The valves channel gaseous hydrogen from the main engines to the external tank. Finally, after days of postponement,...
Philosophy
ISS problem
Just reflect for a moment if a similar issue happened on the Moon or on or orbiting Mars.
"Trouble in Space Station Construction"
February 13th, 2010
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
February 13th, 2010
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astronauts ran into trouble on Saturday while setting up the International Space Station’s newest room, Tranquility: a critical insulating cover does not fit.
The multilayered fabric is supposed to go between Tranquility and its observation deck, but the metal bars are not locking down properly because of interference from a hand rail or some other structure at the hatch.
The flight director, Bob Dempsey, said engineers were trying to figure out how to proceed. Until this snag, everything had been going smoothly in what is NASA’s final major construction job at the space station.
The space shuttle Endeavour delivered Tranquility and its observation deck last week.
The cover is needed to protect Tranquility’s seals and docking mechanisms with the viewing deck from the cold. The port between the two rooms will be briefly exposed when the domed lookout is moved to its permanent location on the other side of Tranquility. That relocation is supposed to happen Sunday, but it may be delayed.
Mr. Dempsey said the astronauts might be asked to remove the interfering pieces or do away with the cover and proceed with the relocation plan. Once the lookout is moved, a docking adapter will take its place so the port would not be exposed for too long, provided nothing else went wrong.
Another option, Mr. Dempsey said, may be to hold off on moving the observation deck until a properly fitting cover can be flown on another shuttle flight.
Only four more shuttle missions remain. The next visit is scheduled for next month.
- Six To Four Astronauts...smart Move
Space Shuttle Atlantis astronauts, from left, Doug Hurley, Rex Walheim, Sandy Magnus and Chris Ferguson after a crew news conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston last month. "Only 4 Fliers for Last Shuttle Launch" by Kenneth Chang July 6th,...
- Fuel Leak On Space Shuttle Discovery
Again a mechanical problem has delayed the shuttle and cost more millions. "Space shuttle launch postponed again" by Irene Klotz August 25th, 2009 Reuters NASA delayed a Wednesday morning liftoff of the space shuttle Discovery because of an apparent...
- Apollo Astronauts Complain
I expected nothing less from "space cowboys". "Apollo astronauts bemoan state of U.S. space program" by Irene Klotz July 21st, 2009 Reuters CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida--The U.S. investment in the Apollo space program, which landed men on the moon, paid...
- Endeavour Is Struck By Debris
Endeavour July 15th, 2009 Still more evidence of the perils of man in space...need I say more. Serious or not...the whole program needs to be reevaluated. "Debris Strikes Endeavour During Liftoff" by Kenneth Chang July 16th, 2009 The New York Times ...
- Shuttle Discovery Is Ready To Go...finally
At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician holds one of Discovery’s gaseous hydrogen flow control valves after its removal. The valves channel gaseous hydrogen from the main engines to the external tank. Finally, after days of postponement,...