OV-103 Final Flight: Viewing (Going to Dulles)

[zerm]

Four of the six mock tiles are on the bottom just forward of the body flap. Here's a shot of the four and a close-up of the code printed on one.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Four of the six mock tiles are on the bottom just forward of the body flap. Here's a shot of the four and a close-up of the code printed on one.

hmm, trying to find the spot you mentioned on this image:

[zerm]

Got a clarification on the "FOAM" tiles this morning from a friend of mine at the NASM:

>>>They had to replace them (with mock tiles) before flying up/after last mission.
They wanted to stamp them like normal ones, but Valerie Neal, the curator asked if they could be marked so we knew.
Dennis Jenkins, who is a Shuttle guru (he has written good few VERY nice Shuttle and X-15 books), came up with inserting "FOAM" into the placement codes so you could tell if you knew what to look for.<<<

[gordo]

...and from a conservation point of view, you would never put a fake tile on and try and pass it off as a real one, as in 100 years time it gets forgotten about. 

[Disco747]

I certainly didn't know until now that Discovery had those fake tiles on her!

[Rahkashi]

Will they try to get replacement tiles from NASA, or will the foam ones stay?

(And for those who are counting, were 50/50 on orbiters loosing something during transit)

[zerm]

Will they try to get replacement tiles from NASA, or will the foam ones stay?

I have no idea. That's probably between NASA and NASM.

[Skylon]

...and from a conservation point of view, you would never put a fake tile on and try and pass it off as a real one, as in 100 years time it gets forgotten about. 

In the event the tiles do stay on, I doubt in 100 years someone will see the "FOAM" stamp on the tiles and think the shuttle used foam tiles for entry. 

[Wayne Hale]

So somewhere under the flight path of Discovery from the SLF to Dulles are four flown tiles, lying on the ground just waiting to be discovered.  Let the hunt begin!

[brettreds2k]

That is a very good point sir!! ROAD TRIP!! 

[Ronsmytheiii]

I hate to spoil everyone's fun, but the foam tiles were installed before Discovery arrived at the SLF, as you can see in the image below

[brettreds2k]

Darn, Road Trip Cancelled!! HAHA