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#1500
by
Jim
on 05 Jan, 2011 11:35
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The extended stay could give the ISS a much-need science boost.
How is that? A few more manhours for a few days is not going to increase science output of the ISS.
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#1501
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 05 Jan, 2011 12:19
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Any chance of using Discovery or Endeavor instead of Atlantis for STS-135, since those orbiters are better equipped for docking to ISS (as those two orbiters can stay an extended duration because they are equipped and upgraded with SSPTS).
No. Atlantis will have STS-335/135.
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#1502
by
padrat
on 11 Jan, 2011 18:24
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I was looking at a picture of Discovery in the VAB online this morning, and it was a shot showing alot of the surface of the MLP, and I was starting to wonder, at launch how much damage is done to the MLP and how much refurb work goes into it before the next launch? Does it get repainted every time also? I was looking at it and I dont see any burn marks, etc which Id expect to see from the SME and the SRB's. Also do any of the large pipes around the SRB area get torn up, etc during a launch? Does anyone have pictures of the MLP after a launch?
Sorry for the late reply. Most of the damage at launch is paint being burnt/ blasted off, mostly around the SRB holes. The handrail around the Zero Level is usually down to bare metal on the side towards the vehicle. Not sure if I have any post launch pics, but I'll check. About the only time you see any real damage is with a very heavy payload or something isn't secured correctly, like the LOX TSM door a few launches back.
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#1503
by
Naito
on 12 Jan, 2011 01:35
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Looking at pictures of the shuttle's underbelly and the colour contrast between new tiles and old tiles got me thinking....how many flights have the oldest tiles seen? Do tiles have a maximum number of reentries lifetime or do they only get replaced when they get damaged? Or are the majority of tiles the same ones each orbiter came with at delivery?
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#1504
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 12 Jan, 2011 01:48
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Looking at pictures of the shuttle's underbelly and the colour contrast between new tiles and old tiles got me thinking....how many flights have the oldest tiles seen? Do tiles have a maximum number of reentries lifetime or do they only get replaced when they get damaged? Or are the majority of tiles the same ones each orbiter came with at delivery?
Some tiles have been on Discovery since her maiden voyage. So the most any TPS tile on the vehicle fleet has seen is 38 flights to date -- soon to be 39. Not sure about a max number of reentries for tiles, but they are only replaced when they are damaged beyond the point of surface repair in the OPF.
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#1505
by
Jim
on 12 Jan, 2011 01:49
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Only replaced when damaged
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#1506
by
Naito
on 12 Jan, 2011 04:43
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As problematic as tiles have been as a thermal protection system, that's still incredible! Thanks Jim.
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#1507
by
Jorge
on 12 Jan, 2011 05:04
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For OV-104, almost 84 percent of the tiles on the vehicle are from the original build. And many of the replacements were for reasons other than TPS failure (for instance, all of the ETB-8 and BRI-18 were added just because we wanted the better tile).
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#1508
by
Hoonte
on 12 Jan, 2011 12:35
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Is it possible for the shuttle to land on water in case of an emergency?
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#1509
by
Jim
on 12 Jan, 2011 12:37
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Is it possible for the shuttle to land on water in case of an emergency?
Ditching was not deemed survivable, that is why the escape pole was developed.
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#1510
by
Naito
on 12 Jan, 2011 15:10
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For OV-104, almost 84 percent of the tiles on the vehicle are from the original build. And many of the replacements were for reasons other than TPS failure (for instance, all of the ETB-8 and BRI-18 were added just because we wanted the better tile).
There wouldn't be some kind of map as to which tiles are still "original" would there? or a "statistically this area has needed more replacement than other areas" map? I imagine the tiles on the underside that get chewed up the most, particularly near the landing gear due to landing debris.
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#1511
by
kraisee
on 12 Jan, 2011 17:06
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From a NYT article published just after
Columbia was lost.
Ross.
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#1512
by
Mark Dave
on 12 Jan, 2011 20:45
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What was the use for the extra LH2 line seen on the first shuttle flights? For example STS-1.
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#1513
by
DaveS
on 12 Jan, 2011 21:06
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What was the use for the extra LH2 line seen on the first shuttle flights? For example STS-1.
You mean the large thick line right next to the 17" LOX feedline? That's the LOX anti-geyser line. Starting with the LWTs, the LOX anti-geyser line was replaced with a direct GHe injection which goes through the right aft vertical strut.
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#1514
by
Mark Dave
on 13 Jan, 2011 13:18
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What was the reason for the odd foam color of the ET used on STS-124? In the videos it looks like some foam was darker as if it was left in the sun for some time. Look
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/p1mvfhvMzlQ/0.jpg The whole bottom area looks like that for this ET.
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#1515
by
Naito
on 13 Jan, 2011 15:13
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From a NYT article published just after Columbia was lost.
Ross.
Interesting, will have to look up that article, thanks Ross.
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#1516
by
Jim
on 13 Jan, 2011 16:17
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What was the reason for the odd foam color of the ET used on STS-124? In the videos it looks like some foam was darker as if it was left in the sun for some time. Look http://i.ytimg.com/vi/p1mvfhvMzlQ/0.jpg The whole bottom area looks like that for this ET.
Exactly, it turns orange from UV exposure
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#1517
by
padrat
on 13 Jan, 2011 17:55
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I've noticed alot of the tiles have old yellow, dot-matrix type Id numbers on them. I'd imagine those are original tiles.
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#1518
by
AS-503
on 13 Jan, 2011 18:13
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Sorry, this is just a nit pick.
The Shuttle picture posted by Ross was almost certainly printed in the NY Times during STS-114 (Discovery), the first Return to Flight after Columbia (a little over 2 years).
Not,"right after Columbia".
The paragraph below the "15,000 Hits and Counting" headline mentions Discovery's launch. Return to Flight got alot of media coverage so it is no surprise that this picture would have been printed.
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#1519
by
Mark Dave
on 13 Jan, 2011 22:55
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I meant on what was the reason for the tank looking like that? I know the sun causes the foam to change color. Normally the ET has a very light, almost yellow tone to it fresh from Michoud. STS-124's tank has a sun burned bottom. Was this tank at one point put in the sun? The photo shows what I mean.