Author
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Topic: Making of: Space shuttle heat shield tile
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-16-2008 10:06 AM
NASA has taken a series of photos documenting the process by which a space shuttle tile is fabricated. In this case, the thermal barrier being created is from Boeing Replacement Insulation 18, or BRI-18, the strongest material used for the orbiter's heat shield. It is replacing other tiles on areas of the vehicle where impact risk is high, such as the landing gear doors, the wing leading edge and the external tank doors. In the Tile Shop at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, United Space Alliance machinist Tony Rollins cuts a block of BRI-18 tile. Rollins trims the BRI-18 block to the desired shape. Rollins continues checking the tile's shape. USA technician Damon Petty applies a TUFI coating to the BRI-18 tile shaped by Rollins. The coating produces toughened unipiece fibrous insulation, providing the tile with extremely high impact resistance. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-16-2008 10:11 AM
The BRI-18 tile is ready to be baked at 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit to cure the ceramic coating. Petty places the tile he coated in the oven. The tile bakes in a 2,200-degree oven to cure the ceramic coating. The BRI-18 tile still glows after being baked. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-16-2008 10:34 AM
As an addendum, this photo, taken by collectSPACE in May, shows some of the BRI-18 tiles installed near the wheel well of Atlantis in preparation for the STS-125 Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission in October. |
SpaceAholic Member Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-16-2008 11:20 AM
No personal protective gear being used by the individual cutting tile? If that's conventional sawing action (vice some type of heated knife in use) lets hope there is not a Mesothelioma analog affiliated with breathing TPS tile dust. |
David Bryant Member Posts: 986 From: Norfolk UK Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 07-16-2008 01:24 PM
What a superb series of photographs! Many thanks! |