Astronauts on the US space shuttle Endeavour on Tuesday finished routine inspection of the thermal protection system on the orbiter's wing leading edges and nose, NASA said.The crew soared into orbit Monday carrying an observation deck for the International Space Station, a seven-windowed dome offering breathtaking views.
On much of their first day working in space, Commander George Zamka, Pilot Terry Virts and Mission Specialists Kay Hire, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Patrick and Robert Behnken inspected heat-resistant tiles and reinforced carbon-carbon surfaces on those high friction areas.
"Zamka, Hire and Patrick used the shuttle's arm and its Orbital Boom Sensor System extension to survey Endeavour's right wing. Subsequently, Virts and Robinson joined the commander for the nose cap survey. Hire replaced Zamka for the port wing survey," NASA said.
The crew was looking for any sign of being hit by ice, and for foam insulation damage that in the past has plagued the external fuel tank. Images were beamed back to mission control in Houston, Texas, to be analyzed.
Some small bits of foam did break off two minutes after launch but apparently without harming the shuttle, Bill Gerstenmaeir, who is in charge of NASA space operations, said late Monday.
In addition to the heat tile inspection, which took about seven hours, the shuttle crew readied for its rendezvous with the ISS. Docking is scheduled for just after midnight 0506 GMT Wednesday.
On much of their first day working in space, Commander George Zamka, Pilot Terry Virts and Mission Specialists Kay Hire, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Patrick and Robert Behnken inspected heat-resistant tiles and reinforced carbon-carbon surfaces on those high friction areas.
"Zamka, Hire and Patrick used the shuttle's arm and its Orbital Boom Sensor System extension to survey Endeavour's right wing. Subsequently, Virts and Robinson joined the commander for the nose cap survey. Hire replaced Zamka for the port wing survey," NASA said.
The crew was looking for any sign of being hit by ice, and for foam insulation damage that in the past has plagued the external fuel tank. Images were beamed back to mission control in Houston, Texas, to be analyzed.
Some small bits of foam did break off two minutes after launch but apparently without harming the shuttle, Bill Gerstenmaeir, who is in charge of NASA space operations, said late Monday.
In addition to the heat tile inspection, which took about seven hours, the shuttle crew readied for its rendezvous with the ISS. Docking is scheduled for just after midnight 0506 GMT Wednesday.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment