Shuttles to Launch in Daylight | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.22.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.16.24

 Airborne-FlightTraining-04.17.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers-04.18.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.19.24

Join Us At 0900ET, Friday, 4/10, for the LIVE Morning Brief.
Watch It LIVE at www.airborne-live.net

Tue, Jun 17, 2003

Shuttles to Launch in Daylight

Launch-Damage Detection Enhanced by Clear View

Since the Columbia's last mission, more emphasis than ever before has been focused on in-flight and launch damage, with an eye to immediate detection, and in-flight repair.

No longer will anything be taken for granted, no matter how often the event has proven inconsequential in the past.

The Columbia's port wing leading edge was hit by a piece of foam just after liftoff; this type of thing had happened several times before, on other missions, and NASA did not, at the time, consider the foam strike a potential danger. Subsequent tests have confirmed that such a foam strike can indeed pose a mission-critical danger; and the independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board, due to convene in D.C. this Thursday, may come back with a determination that this foam strike did indeed cause the in-flight breakup.

Better visibility will allow better monitoring of any such events; and better visibility can be achieved only in daylight. NASA made it official late last week: from now on, Shuttle launches (and presumably all manned space flights) will initiate in daylight.

FMI: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov


Advertisement

More News

Airborne 04.16.24: RV Update, Affordable Flying Expo, Diamond Lil

Also: B-29 Superfortress Reunion, FAA Wants Controllers, Spirit Airlines Pulls Back, Gogo Galileo Van's Aircraft posted a short video recapping the goings-on around their reorganiz>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.20.24): Light Gun

Light Gun A handheld directional light signaling device which emits a brilliant narrow beam of white, green, or red light as selected by the tower controller. The color and type of>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.20.24)

"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.21.24)

"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.21.24): Aircraft Conflict

Aircraft Conflict Predicted conflict, within EDST of two aircraft, or between aircraft and airspace. A Red alert is used for conflicts when the predicted minimum separation is 5 na>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne-NextGen 04.23.24: UAVOS UVH 170, magni650 Engines, World eVTOL Directory

Airborne 04.22.24: Rotor X Worsens, Airport Fees 4 FNB?, USMC Drone Pilot

Airborne 04.19.24: Boom Supersonic, Aviation Alliance, BRM Electric

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC