New Radars Might Make It Possible Sooner Rather Than Later

A troika of new, highly advanced radars on and around Cape Canaveral could mean fewer restrictions for future shuttle launches. In fact, they could mean shuttles will be able to launch at night, shortly after the shuttles' much-anticipated return to flight.

Florida Today reports the radars, located north and south of the shuttle launch pads, as well as on board the SRB recovery ship just off the coast, could mean many more opportunities for the shuttles to fly in the face of the restrictions enacted after the February 1st, 2003, Columbia tragedy.

"We're counting on the cameras to show us things during daylight," said Sue Gaines, a lead engineer in NASA's Comprehensive Master Planning Office at Kennedy Space Center. She told Florida Today, "But we feel like this will really enhance our capability to do night launches."

Together, the radar sites and a vast array of ground- and airborne cameras mean shuttle launches will be seen as never before. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) told NASA it needed at least three useable views of shuttle launches to spot an accident like the falling foam impact that led to Columbia's destruction. The CAIB also suggested NASA put cameras on aircraft and aboard ships underneath the launch trajectory.

To that end, NASA will fly two WB-57F camera-equipped aircraft (file photo of type, below) around the launch site. They'll be complimented by additional cameras on the SRBs and the newly-redesigned external fuel tank.

The new C- and X-Band radar systems are so precise that they'll be able to detect debris impacting the orbiter between the shuttle and the external tank -- the single-most impact prone area in the entire launch system.

"We're going to see things we've never seen before," Gaines said.

FMI: www.nasa.gov