GSC Update

* Return to flight

February 1st, 2003, the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia broke up over Texas re-entering the earth's atmosphere after a successful weeklong mission of science and exploration. All seven astronauts aboard were killed; the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) determined that the cause was a large piece of foam that had broken off of the external fuel tank and damaged a part of the thermal tile system during liftoff, allowing hot gasses to destroy the orbiter internally.

More than two years later, and several months behind schedule, NASA once again returns to flight with the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery. The oldest orbiter in the fleet (built in 1983), Discovery has undergone extensive testing, safety checks, and overhauls of the aging equipment and electronics on board, as well as a redesigned external tank (designed to reduce shedding and icing). As part of the CAIB recommendations, the Space Shuttle will only launch under stringent weather and lighting windows, to allow a safe ascent to the International Space Station, as well as allowing numerous additional cameras to photograph the Shuttle to check for possible damage.

However, after a scrubbed countdown for a fuel sensor, Discovery was go for liftoff and launched from Kennedy Space Center Tuesday, July 26 at 10:39 a.m. EDT. The shuttle is now en route to the ISS and NASA engineers are reviewing the data from the launch. Part of the new procedures include inspecting the thermal tiles with an extendable boom from the remote arm in the payload bay. Shedding of foam and ice from the external tank (and solid rocket boosters) has been a part of the shuttle launch since it's beginning- a careful review of the photos and telemetry will decide if the safety and technical changes have done their job. For now, Discovery astronauts and NASA will continue to inspect the orbiter while delivering cargo to the ISS. Three extravehicular activities (spacewalk) have been planned. The Shuttle is scheduled to return August 7th.

Results from this launch will determine the progress of NASA's return to flight and the status of the remaining orbiters. Small pieces of debris may have damaged the orbiter, and currently the rest of the fleet is grounded until appropriate reviews have been made.

Crew of STS-114
* Eileen M. Collins, Commander
* James M. Kelly, Pilot
* Soichi Noguchi, Mission Specialist
* Stephen K. Robinson, Mission Specialist
* Andrew Thomas, Mission Specialist
* Wendy Lawrence, Mission Specialist
* Charles Camarda, Mission Specialist


*The Xinhua News Agency reports training is almost complete for the next Chinese Space Agency flight. Of the 14 candidates, two will fly aboard a Long March F rocket and pilot the Shenzhou 6 spacecraft. China, only the third nation to independently launch a human to space, plans on making their second flight and first two-man launch by the end of the year.

*A dozen small moons have been discovered orbiting Saturn, bringing that planet's total known count to 46. The discoveries were made with Japan's Subaru telescope in Hawaii. The moons are estimated to range in diameter from 2 to 4 miles (3 to 7 kilometers). Recent technology have increased the capacity for detecting small orbiting bodies, leading some scientists to question what defines a "moon".

*NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft found it's target over the 4th of July weekend. Releasing an 820 pound probe that smashed into Comet Tempel 1, the craft took data and photographs from the collision and aftermath to better understand the physics and composition of the "dirty snowballs" that wander into our solar system. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory website has additional photos and information.


Links and information
Space.com
Wikipedia
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The Cincinnati Enquirer