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Author
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Topic: STS-118: Foam damage to thermal tile
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mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 08-21-2007 02:55 PM
   
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
The knee jerk reaction is to do a repair, but the real skill is to know with certainty that you don't have to...
While I don't disagree that the repair was likely unnecessary this time around (from a safety standpoint), the opportunity was lost to gain valuable in-flight experience on conducting a repair in a real-life situation. Next time when a repair is necessary for a safe return, the past experience they could have accumulated would have only increased their odds for success. I heard several people at Spacefest express some criticism for NASA not attempting the repair. So while some people may be impressed with the level of detail NASA studied the problem, it is also clear to me that others (some of whom are very much interested in spaceflight) felt that they were throwing away an opportunity to do such a repair. Some may say the risk was too high, but I personally feel the risk of not doing the repair and not gaining that valuable experience is even higher.
Edited by mjanovec |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-21-2007 03:12 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
Some may say the risk was too high, but I personally feel the risk of not not doing the repair and not gaining that experience is even higher.
As John Shannon explained, working on the underbelly of the orbiter, without the helmet cam or assured comm, using a tool never before used in the microgravity environment is not the way to productively or safely gain that experience. Instead, time is being scheduled during the next mission's spacewalks to conduct a test inside the payload bay of the T-RAD, in advance of ever being required to do a repair. |
Lunatiki
Member Posts: 237
From: Amarillo, TX, USA
Registered: Dec 2006
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posted 08-21-2007 03:28 PM
I don't see any change at all on the tiles. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 08-21-2007 04:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
As John Shannon explained, working on the underbelly of the orbiter, without the helmet cam or assured comm, using a tool never before used in the microgravity environment is not the way to productively or safely gain that experience.
If they don't have the helmet cam working for such an EVA and don't have proper tools tested for repairs in microgravity, are they really even ready to fly at this point? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-21-2007 04:50 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
If they don't have the helmet cam working for such an EVA and don't have proper tools tested for repairs in microgravity, are they really even ready to fly at this point?
Were a repair necessary, both the crew and the ground controllers, as well as the mission management team, were confident they could perform as needed. But as the repair was not necessary and given the noted limitations, it was not the time or place to conduct a demonstration for experience sake (especially when such a demonstration could be conducted in a more controlled environment on the next flight). |
MarylandSpace
Member Posts: 1336
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 08-21-2007 05:07 PM
Rob, Thank you for the excellent reporting and updates. Your side by side image comparison lets us understand that the testing and analysis was correct. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-21-2007 05:38 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
While I don't disagree that the repair was likely unnecessary this time around (from a safety standpoint), the opportunity was lost to gain valuable in-flight experience on conducting a repair in a real-life situation.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
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FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-22-2007 12:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert:
and the results speak for themselves
Although I doubt they are going to find anything bad, based on the surface images of the felt, the results are not fully in on this issue until they pop these tiles off and look for underlying aluminum damage through the breach. |
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