posted 06-29-2006 05:16 PM
The twin solid rocket boosters (SRB) that will launch Discovery on mission STS-121 are assembled from 22 major components that separately have flown a combined total of 54 prior missions. Labeled by ATK as "Flight Set 93", the left and right SRBs' 2 forward domes, 12 cylinders, 2 external tank attachment segments, 3* case stiffeners and 2 aft domes represent a case use history of prior missions STS-1**, 5, 6, 8, 41G, 51A, 51B, 51F, 51G, 61A, 61C, 28, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 63, 64, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 73, 77, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 92, 94, 97, 98, 101 and 102.
* The fourth case stiffener, positioned at the bottom of STS-121's right booster is new.
Several of the components were also previously used as part of demonstration, engineering test, flight support, production verification, qualification and test evaluation motors.
** Last year's STS-114 also included an STS-1 flown cylinder; despite identical placement in the STS-121 stack (left booster, uppermost segment) they are indeed different segments.
posted 06-29-2006 05:16 PM
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