Comments on: NASA aims to launch Tuesday despite foam crack http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:48:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: icemith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16804 icemith Thu, 06 Jul 2006 15:41:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16804 I still worry, Irishman, because the mission isn't over yet, not until that craft has safely landed. Ivan. I still worry, Irishman, because the mission isn’t over yet, not until that craft has safely landed.

Ivan.

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16805 Irishman Wed, 05 Jul 2006 16:35:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16805 No, it isn't adhesive. It is the structural integrity of the foam itself. The crack in the foam likely formed because of thermal cycling of the foam during filling and draining of the ET. The crack in the foam weakens the structural integrity of that chunck, it falls off. Weakness in that one location does not necessarily mean any other areas are weak, although the thermal cycling may not be limited to that one location. There is also the risk of ice forming in that spot because there isn't enough insulation there now. All of which is moot now. No, it isn’t adhesive. It is the structural integrity of the foam itself. The crack in the foam likely formed because of thermal cycling of the foam during filling and draining of the ET. The crack in the foam weakens the structural integrity of that chunck, it falls off. Weakness in that one location does not necessarily mean any other areas are weak, although the thermal cycling may not be limited to that one location.

There is also the risk of ice forming in that spot because there isn’t enough insulation there now.

All of which is moot now.

]]> By: icemith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16806 icemith Tue, 04 Jul 2006 16:27:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16806 Year, but remember that if one piece fell off, what's stopping more from coming off? I'd say the adhesive has probably gone off too. So unfortunately, more will part company with the mother ship. I only hope that it does not seriously affect the mission. Ivan. Year, but remember that if one piece fell off, what’s stopping more from coming off? I’d say the adhesive has probably gone off too. So unfortunately, more will part company with the mother ship. I only hope that it does not seriously affect the mission.

Ivan.

]]> By: ioresult http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16808 ioresult Tue, 04 Jul 2006 16:02:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16808 Update: the cracked foam piece fell off. It's 2.6 grams and about 10 cm wide by 6 mm thick. Since it already fell off, it should no longer pose any danger during launch! Update: the cracked foam piece fell off. It’s 2.6 grams and about 10 cm wide by 6 mm thick. Since it already fell off, it should no longer pose any danger during launch!

]]> By: ioresult http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16807 ioresult Tue, 04 Jul 2006 16:00:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16807 They will be testing different types of "duct tape" to repair damaged tiles during this mission. and not too soon! A launch is a violent event, I wonder why they never bothered to examine the underside of the shuttle during orbit before. They will be testing different types of “duct tape” to repair damaged tiles during this mission. and not too soon! A launch is a violent event, I wonder why they never bothered to examine the underside of the shuttle during orbit before.

]]> By: kara http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16809 kara Tue, 04 Jul 2006 01:17:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16809 Exciting - a launch on the 4th of July! U crack me up ;) And yeah GL, I bet they have a few rolls of duct tape on board. Exciting - a launch on the 4th of July!
U crack me up ;)
And yeah GL, I bet they have a few rolls of duct tape on board.

]]> By: Grand_Lunar http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16810 Grand_Lunar Tue, 04 Jul 2006 00:15:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/03/nasa-aims-to-launch-tuesday-despite-foam-crack/#comment-16810 I suggest they put some JB weld on that crack. That'll fix it up. If all else fails, there's always duct tape. I suggest they put some JB weld on that crack. That’ll fix it up.

If all else fails, there’s always duct tape.

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