News Debris strikes Space Shuttle... - Page 7

mikey23545 · 07-15-2009, 05:04 PM

Breaking news on TV...HD video onboard the Shuttle shows debris striking the underside as it reached Mach 3...

**BigMeatballDave** · 07-16-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

BTW, Orion 15 is scheduled to land on the Moon in June 2019.

10 years? I thoight we'd be on Mars by then.

wild1 · 07-16-2009, 09:32 AM

My only question would be, haven't there been like a hundred space shuttle flights in the past, why didn't this happen pre-2002? Or was it always happening and not being noticed?

**Donger** · 07-16-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild1

My only question would be, haven't there been like a hundred space shuttle flights in the past, why didn't this happen pre-2002? Or was it always happening and not being noticed?

Yes, foam has always broken off the external tank and has repeatedly hit the shuttle. Unfortunately with Columbia, it struck precisely where it would cause catastrophic failure during re-entry.

**Donger** · 07-16-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefDave

10 years? I thoight we'd be on Mars by then.

It may not happen at all. The present administration is reviewing the mission now.

**BigMeatballDave** · 07-16-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Seriously, why all the NASA hate?

I don't know about the hate, but they've had issues with this foam for yrs now even after losing 7 astronauts and a Shuttle. Seriously. They put a man on the Moon more than 40 yrs ago, and they can't solve the foam problem.

Frazod · 07-16-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigChiefDave

I don't know about the hate, but they've had issues with this foam for yrs now even after losing 7 astronauts and a Shuttle. Seriously. They put a man on the Moon more than 40 yrs ago, and they can't solve the foam problem.

Apparently attaching tiles correctly is the most complex task in the history of the universe.

wild1 · 07-16-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Yes, foam has always broken off the external tank and has repeatedly hit the shuttle. Unfortunately with Columbia, it struck precisely where it would cause catastrophic failure during re-entry.

so if it's not on the leading edge, nothing to worry about, but if it is then they can't repair it.

**Donger** · 07-16-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Apparently attaching tiles correctly is the most complex task in the history of the universe.

The tiles aren't the cause of the problem. The foam shedding is. They could make the tiles impervious to foam impact, but unfortunately, they would weigh too much.

**Donger** · 07-16-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild1

so if it's not on the leading edge, nothing to worry about, but if it is then they can't repair it.

They think that Columbia actually had a hole about a foot in diameter in the leading edge. It's a combination of where the hit is (and how hot it gets during re-entry) and is it a ding or a hole.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 07-16-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Apparently attaching tiles correctly is the most complex task in the history of the universe.

"We can put a man on the Moon, but we can't______".

40 years later, this statement that we've all heard a million times gives me pause.
This IS indeed the great question, isn't it?

And 40 years later, with the lack of advancement in space-travel, no commercial space travel, and technology we were supposed to be enjoying right now, this question/statement gives further credence to the theory that we in fact did NOT go to the Moon.

So there.

CoMoChief · 07-16-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey23545

Hard to say how long it would take to prep a rescue mission...They can probably stay docked to the ISS for awhile, but how long?...

Calling Bruce Willis.....

**Donger** · 07-16-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Calling Bruce Willis.....

They could stay in the ISS for up to two months. And they could use the Soyuz if they had to.

wild1 · 07-16-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

"We can put a man on the Moon, but we can't______".

Well, some things are a lot harder than putting two boots down on the moon.

wild1 · 07-16-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

They could stay in the ISS for up to two months. And they could use the Soyuz if they had to.

If Soyuz can get them back to earth, would it be the case that sending another shuttle up is out of the question?

**Baby Lee** · 07-16-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Yes, I know. My point was about having the crew vehicle above all the crap falling off, be it ice or foam.

The point is more that the re-entry surface was protected by being under the capsule and clad by the booster cylinder, as opposed to running the breadth of the shuttle out on the open. But that seems to be the price of a reusable re-entry vehicle with a payload capacity of the shuttle.

07-15-2009, 05:04 PM
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07-16-2009, 09:32 AM	#92
wild1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: 31040 Casino cash: $10004900	My only question would be, haven't there been like a hundred space shuttle flights in the past, why didn't this happen pre-2002? Or was it always happening and not being noticed?
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