Author Topic: OV-103 in Dulles (Read 71376 times)

SalemHanna · « **Reply #20 on:** 05/13/2013 10:15 PM »

Quote from: Sarah on 05/12/2013 05:27 AM

I visited Discovery this week. It was awesome to see her again! One thing I noticed is the slight orange coloring of the tiles from the ET doors back to the end of the body flap. You can kind of see it in the photos. I suspect this is from ET separation but I'm not sure.

That's interesting about the orange stains.

The thing I always found curious about Discovery was the dark strip of black thermal tiles she has running down from one of her right cockpit windows. It's quite distinctive - you don't see it on any other orbiter. Always assumed she had an extra piece of equipment there that needed special heat protection, or a structural weakness that might have also needed 'patching up'. But could never find the answer on Google.

Anyone out there know the reason?

Overflow · « **Reply #21 on:** 05/14/2013 01:19 AM »

Can you find a picture of it next to another orbiter? You've peaked my interest..

psloss · « **Reply #22 on:** 05/14/2013 01:32 AM »

You can see it in RPM imagery; for example:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-133/html/iss026e030066.html

And likely since Discovery flew the most of the three retired vehicles, it's not hard to notice once you've noticed it; stacking for the same mission:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=48602

Sarah · « **Reply #23 on:** 05/14/2013 08:04 PM »

Quote from: SalemHanna on 05/13/2013 10:15 PM

Quote from: Sarah on 05/12/2013 05:27 AM
I visited Discovery this week. It was awesome to see her again! One thing I noticed is the slight orange coloring of the tiles from the ET doors back to the end of the body flap. You can kind of see it in the photos. I suspect this is from ET separation but I'm not sure.

That's interesting about the orange stains.

The thing I always found curious about Discovery was the dark strip of black thermal tiles she has running down from one of her right cockpit windows. It's quite distinctive - you don't see it on any other orbiter. Always assumed she had an extra piece of equipment there that needed special heat protection, or a structural weakness that might have also needed 'patching up'. But could never find the answer on Google.

Anyone out there know the reason?

My understanding of the three HRSI tiles under Discovery's window is that it was likely a mistake. Those tiles were supposed to be LRSI tiles. Since there was no harm in using HRSI tiles in that location, they were installed.

Disco747 · « **Reply #24 on:** 05/17/2013 04:55 PM »

I've also noticed those extra tiles below Discovery's cockpit windows on the righthand side, in many of the photos I've seen of her, both in service and retired, and I've also wondered why they were there.

I actually use those distinctive tiles to help me to identify Disco in pictures where I can't quite make out her name, such as long-distance launch or landing shots, and when I'm downloading Shuttle photos, even close-up ones, I always know that it's a photo of Discovery when I see those distinctive tiles, even if the photo hasn't downloaded enough to let me read her name.

Sarah · « **Reply #25 on:** 05/17/2013 06:12 PM »

Originally Discovery had four HRSI tiles under her window but at some point one was replaced with an LRSI tile. This further leads me to believe this was a build mistake when they made the tiles.

You can see in the top photo the original four HRSI tiles. In the bottom photo, the lower tile is now an LRSI tile.

psloss · « **Reply #26 on:** 05/17/2013 08:11 PM »

Quote from: Sarah on 05/17/2013 06:12 PM

Originally Discovery had four HRSI tiles under her window but at some point one was replaced with an LRSI tile.

I believe that change was made sometime during 103's J2 OMM (the only one for Discovery at Palmdale).

wkann · « **Reply #27 on:** 05/17/2013 10:41 PM »

Maybe the HRSI tiles under Discovery's window were some kind of "shuttle birthmark" like Columbia's "sideburns" on the top of the wings.

SalemHanna · « **Reply #28 on:** 05/20/2013 10:41 PM »

Quote from: wkann on 05/17/2013 10:41 PM

Maybe the HRSI tiles under Discovery's window were some kind of "shuttle birthmark" like Columbia's "sideburns" on the top of the wings.

lol...to me they look more like a teardrop than a birthmark, but I know what you mean. Cheers for your responses guys, it's good to clear that little mystery up!

brettreds2k · « **Reply #29 on:** 05/21/2013 12:05 PM »

So what you are all saying is poor Discovery has a birth defect?

lol

Disco747 · « **Reply #30 on:** 05/23/2013 06:52 PM »

Quote from: brettreds2k on 05/21/2013 12:05 PM

So what you are all saying is poor Discovery has a birth defect? lol

Maybe we should think of those extra tiles as Discovery's "Mark of Distinction"!

Ares67 · « **Reply #31 on:** 05/27/2013 05:42 PM »

I always called it "the tear," although I can't explain why my favorite orbiter should have been crying...

SalemHanna · « **Reply #32 on:** 05/27/2013 06:01 PM »

Quote from: Ares67 on 05/27/2013 05:42 PM

I always called it "the tear," although I can't explain why my favorite orbiter should have been crying...

A tear of joy at getting the majority of headline-grabbing missions?

Ares67 · « **Reply #33 on:** 05/27/2013 06:04 PM »

Quote from: SalemHanna on 05/27/2013 06:01 PM

Quote from: Ares67 on 05/27/2013 05:42 PM
I always called it "the tear," although I can't explain why my favorite orbiter should have been crying...

A tear of joy at getting the majority of headline-grabbing missions?

Yeah, that's it!

TJL · « **Reply #34 on:** 08/21/2013 01:13 AM »

Went with my family this week to see space shuttle Discovery on display.
Having the privilege of seeing Discovery fly from KSC 5 times, it really meant a lot to see her up close again!

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-qsoZDcdOCnVTBKdEI0Yk9pc2s/edit?pli=1

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-qsoZDcdOCnemo5N3hyUXE4Ym8/edit?pli=1

32s · « **Reply #35 on:** 09/10/2013 12:00 AM »

A few pictures of Discovery

Overflow · « **Reply #36 on:** 09/10/2013 04:18 PM »

Thank you for your pictures, 32s!

32s · « **Reply #37 on:** 09/12/2013 12:40 AM »

Thanks , a few more pictures

Overflow · « **Reply #38 on:** 09/12/2013 01:01 PM »

Hey 32s, did you notice any dust on Discovery? I heard complaints about that.

32s · « **Reply #39 on:** 09/12/2013 03:54 PM »

Yes, there was quite a bit of dust on the wings. We were a little surprised to see this.