Posts: 5
From: seattle, wa
Registered: Feb 2021

posted 03-15-2021 07:55 PM               

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Some time ago I was presented a space shuttle tile that was clearly removed from an orbiter. The supporting paperwork I have indicates the tile was removed from Discovery on July 28, 2006. Among other things, the "Barcode Cover Sheet" states: "STS/FLT - 116/033".

I thought this indicated that it was removed from STS-116. However, the STS-116 mission was from Dec. 9-21, 2006, which was after the removal date on the tag.

The removal date seems to correspond to STS-121 (July 4-16, 2006), which was the Discovery mission prior to STS-116. All this would suggest that when the tile is removed, the paperwork reflects the following mission of the same orbiter?

Not sure that makes sense. Thoughts anyone? Thanks!

Posts: 45914
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-15-2021 09:58 PM               

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In the case of most space shuttle program paperwork, if a mission is listed, it is for the flight that the work is supporting, not the mission from which the part was last used.

After landing from STS-121 and being rolled back into the orbiter processing facility, any work ordered on Discovery (such as the removal of a damaged tile) would be in support of its next mission, STS-116.

Most paperwork, though, did not list a mission, only a date of the removal. In those cases, the date should fall between missions, allowing the most recent use to be worked out.

Posts: 5
From: seattle, wa
Registered: Feb 2021

Posts: 45914
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-26-2021 05:31 PM               

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There is presently no publicly accessible master database about the work done to service each of the orbiters between missions.

There was a tile reference database that was used by the technicians who worked on the orbiters, but that system was taken offline at the end of the program. The data was reportedly transferred to the National Archives, but if it was, it has yet to be catalogued or presented in a way that it could be accessed by researchers or the public.

Posts: 5
From: seattle, wa
Registered: Feb 2021