Posted on 08/03/2005 9:15:20 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SPACE CENTER, Houston - A spacewalking astronaut gently pulled two potentially dangerous strips of protruding filler from Discovery's tile belly with his gloved hand Wednesday, successfully completing an unprecedented emergency repair.
Astronaut Stephen Robinson said both pieces came out easily during the spacewalk, which lasted six hours. He did not have to use a makeshift hacksaw put together in orbit that he brought along just in case.
"That came out very easily, probably even less force," Robinson said of the second piece. "I don't see any more gap filler. ... I'm doing my own inspection here. It is a very nice orbital belly."
NASA officials had determined that the exposed ceramic-fiber fillers could lead to overheating and a possible repeat of Columbia's disastrous re-entry.
Robinson attached a special foot restraint to the space station's 58-foot robotic arm and fellow astronauts aboard the station maneuvered the arm so Robinson could reach the shuttle's belly. They were careful to make sure Robinson's helmet and feet did not contact the fragile ship.
It was the first time an astronaut has ventured beneath a shuttle.
Robinson took only the essential tools for the repair — leaving a tile repair kit just outside the airlock. He also secured his safety tethers between his legs and behind him to keep from accidentally striking the vehicle.
Once under Discovery's belly, Robinson expected to spend about an hour removing or trimming the fillers from two locations near the shuttle's nose. But it took mere seconds for him to pull each strip.
His spacewalking partner, Soichi Noguchi, kept a close eye on Robinson and was set to communicate with astronauts aboard the orbiting complex if Robinson's communication system failed.
"Steve, we trained for four years, you're going to spend the next four years signing autographs," Noguchi told Robinson once the repairs were complete.
Those who watched from space and on the ground were fascinated by the never-before-seen views.
"Steve, could you move your hand out of the field of view," astronaut Andrew Thomas radioed Robinson, who had a camera attached to his helmet. "We were enjoying the view as much as you were."
NASA thought the first gap filler was the trickier of the two. They believed it remained glued to a shim that was bonded to a thermal tile.
There are 24,300 glass coated tiles on the shuttle, a majority of them on its belly. The tiles protect the shuttle from the extreme temperatures in orbit and, more importantly, insulate the ship during launch and re-entry.
The filler material protects the tiles from bumping against one another during launch, but isn't needed for landing because of the difference in the airflow.
Once the work was complete, Thomas requested the spacewalkers return to the shuttle and cut short the expected 7-hour orbital outing. He said it had been a long day.
Robinson, however, urged Mission Control to let him take a picture from beneath the shuttle before the station's arm brought him back up.
"You guys are going to be happy I had a camera," Robinson said. "It is so beautiful to see the orbiter against the Earth at these angles."
An astronaut in Mission Control told Robinson the photo sounded nice.
"I think the team down here would like an autographed copy when you get back," Michael Massimino radioed from the Houston control center. "You guys did a great job. Congratulations."
As the spacewalkers returned to the airlock, those aboard the shuttle used Discovery's robotic arm to inspect a thermal blanket below the commander's window that was ripped during launch, most likely by debris.
Deputy shuttle program manager Wayne Hale hinted late Tuesday that the astronauts may have another repair job ahead of them before their mission ends. It would come during a fourth unplanned spacewalk.
Hale said there is concern that the blanket might come off during re-entry and smack into the shuttle. He said engineers were in the process of assessing whether something needed to be done to the blanket, which was opened and puffed up by air during launch.
Before Robinson began the filler repair Wednesday, he and Noguchi spent two hours installing an external tool and parts platform on the international space station, where Discovery has been docked since Thursday.
The platform's installation was the key task of the mission's third spacewalk until NASA officials determined the exposed fillers could threaten Discovery's re-entry.
Columbia broke apart over Texas in 2003 as its crew returned to Earth from a 16-day mission. The disaster was blamed on a chunk of foam that fell from the external tank during liftoff and tore a hole in one of spacecraft's wings. All seven astronauts died.
Discovery, set to land Monday, is the first shuttle to return to orbit since the tragedy. New damage surveys developed in Columbia's aftermath detected the drooping material on Discovery.
"That was the ride of the century," Robinson told astronaut James Kelly, who operated the station's arm during the filler repair. "Very nice job."
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On the Net:
NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/main/index.html
In this image released by NASA TV, a camera attached to the space shuttle Discovery's robotic arm shows astronaut Steve Robinson working on the removal of gap fillers on the underside of the Discovery, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005. This is the first time in spacewalking history that an astronaut has ventured under the belly of a space shuttle and performed repairs. (AP Photo/NASA TV)
The filler material protects the tiles from bumping against one another during launch, but isn't needed for landing because of the difference in the airflow.
I would be more than a little leery of pronouncing success, until they're safely on the ground, myself.
A helmet-mounted camera shows astronaut Steve Robinson removing a gap filler on the underside of the Space Shuttle Discovery on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005. This is the first time in spacewalking history that an astronaut has ventured under the belly of a space shuttle and performed repairs. (AP Photo/NASA TV)
While I am glad that the repair was "successful" and I hope that the astronauts make it home safely, this grand display of ingenuity with limited resources reminds me of stories about how Cubans keep those old American cars from the 1950s running -- a great job under the circumstances, but why the circumstances?
Wow! A positive AP headline!
In this image released by NASA taken aboard the Shuttle Discovery, shows the modifications the crew has made to a hacksaw they will carry with them during the spacewalk Wednesday. The hacksaw could be used if needed to cut off a thermal protection system gap filler that is protruding from the underside of Discovery. (AP Photo/NASA)
Off to the NASA Museum with this gem. lol
" this grand display of ingenuity with limited resources reminds me of stories about how Cubans keep those old American cars from the 1950s running"
Bailing wire and duct tape.
The title is actually 2 titles for the same article on Yahooey. I merged them for search purposes. :)
Spacecraft reusability, which was a fine idea at the time. Rocket scientists are still learning what works and what doesn't. It is impossible to know a priori everything about what is suitable for outer space.
i agree. what is the point of our space program?
Bush finally gave an answer. Exploration and discovery, now with an emphasis on manned E and D.
Excuse me, but I don't want anything that's there to protect my life to be so easily pulled out.
"what is the point of our space program?"
Exploration and discovery while returning our astronauts safely to Earth.
When it should be blamed on NASA and the PC idiots that made the EPA/NASA change the foam on the tank that worked before with NO PROBLEMS..
Isn't it a bit early to call it a success? I'd prefer that they land safely 1st.
I think it's far past time to ground the shuttle fleet and replace it with a newer more robust vehicle. Those ships are over 20 years old, STS-1 launched in 1981.
Precisely.
"When it should be blamed on NASA and the PC idiots that made the EPA/NASA change the foam on the tank that worked before with NO PROBLEMS."
I think you have me confused with someone else... I agree that allowing environmental concerns to outstrip safety is counterproductive, to say the least. I've read before that the WTC might very well not have collapsed, had asbestos been used during construction for fireproofing.
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