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-05.06.24

Airborne-NextGen-04.30.24

 Airborne-Unlimited-05.01.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers--05.02.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.03.24

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

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.07.24): Hazardous Weather Information

Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.07.24)

Aero Linx: The T-6 Racing Association The T-6 Racing Association is all about T-6‘s and racing. Our mission is to bring great racing to our fans in Reno and other venues wher>[...]

Airborne 05.01.24: WACO Kitchen, FAA Reauthorization, World Skydiving Day

Also: Electra Aero, AMO-CBP v Smugglers, Naval King Airs, Boeing Deal To the surprise of everyone involved, Waco Kitchen shut down both airport operations with little warning and h>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.02.24: Bobby Bailey, SPRG Report Cards, Skydive!

Also: WACO Kitchen Bails, French SportPlane Mfr to FL, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Innovation Preview Bobby Bailey, a bit of a fixture in sport aviation circles for his work with>[...]

Airborne 05.03.24: Advanced Powerplant Solutions, PRA Runway Woes, Drone Racing

Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne-Flight Training 05.09.24: ERAU at AIAA, LIFT Diamond Buy, Epic A&P

Airborne 05.08.24: Denali Update, Dad-Daughter Gyro, Lake SAIB

Airborne-NextGen 05.07.24: AI-Piloted F-16, AgEagle, 1st 2 WorldView Sats

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

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