Feb. 27, 2007

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Kyle Herring/Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

RELEASE: 07-60

HAIL DAMAGE FORCES SHUTTLE ATLANTIS OFF LAUNCH PAD

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA decided Tuesday to roll the space shuttle
Atlantis off its launch pad and back inside the Vehicle Assembly
Building at the Kennedy Space Center. Managers made the decision
after a hail storm Monday damaged the orbiter's External Tank. A new
target launch date has not been determined, but teams will focus on
preparing Atlantis for liftoff in late April.

On Monday, a severe thunderstorm with golf ball-size hail caused what
could be 1,000 to 2,000 divots in the giant tank's foam insulation
and minor surface damage to about 26 heat shield tiles on the
shuttle's left wing. Further evaluation of the tank is necessary to
get an accurate accounting of foam damage and must be done in the
Vehicle Assembly Building, where the entire tank can be more easily
accessed. The shuttle is expected to be moved off the pad by early
next week.

Once an up-close look at the damage is complete, the type of repair
required and the time needed for that work can be determined.
Atlantis' flight, STS-117, to the International Space Station will be
scheduled sometime after a Russian Soyuz spacecraft returns from the
station. The Soyuz is delivering new station crew members and
returning others back to Earth in late April. Adequate time is needed
between the Soyuz undocking and the shuttle's arrival to the station.

STS-117 Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and mission
specialists Jim Reilly, Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson and John
"Danny" Olivas will continue training at NASA's Johnson Space Center,
Houston, as they await a new target launch date. During the 11-day
mission, the astronauts will work with the station crew and ground
teams to install a new truss segment, unfold a new set of solar
arrays and retract one array on the starboard side of the station.

Space Shuttle Program managers are gathered at the Kennedy Space
Center for the traditional Flight Readiness Review for the mission.
During the two-day meeting, NASA managers and engineers assess any
risks associated with the mission and determine whether the shuttle's
equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight. The
meeting, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, will continue as
planned.

For information about the STS-117 crew and mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

-end-

Feb. 27, 2007

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Kyle Herring/Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

RELEASE: 07-60

HAIL DAMAGE FORCES SHUTTLE ATLANTIS OFF LAUNCH PAD

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA decided Tuesday to roll the space shuttle
Atlantis off its launch pad and back inside the Vehicle Assembly
Building at the Kennedy Space Center. Managers made the decision
after a hail storm Monday damaged the orbiter's External Tank. A new
target launch date has not been determined, but teams will focus on
preparing Atlantis for liftoff in late April.

On Monday, a severe thunderstorm with golf ball-size hail caused what
could be 1,000 to 2,000 divots in the giant tank's foam insulation
and minor surface damage to about 26 heat shield tiles on the
shuttle's left wing. Further evaluation of the tank is necessary to
get an accurate accounting of foam damage and must be done in the
Vehicle Assembly Building, where the entire tank can be more easily
accessed. The shuttle is expected to be moved off the pad by early
next week.

On Feb 27, 8:50?pm, baa...@earthlink.net wrote:
Feb. 27, 2007

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Kyle Herring/Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

RELEASE: 07-60

HAIL DAMAGE FORCES SHUTTLE ATLANTIS OFF LAUNCH PAD

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA decided Tuesday to roll the space shuttle
Atlantis off its launch pad and back inside the Vehicle Assembly
Building at the Kennedy Space Center. Managers made the decision
after a hail storm Monday damaged the orbiter's External Tank. A new
target launch date has not been determined, but teams will focus on
preparing Atlantis for liftoff in late April.

On Monday, a severe thunderstorm with golf ball-size hail caused what
could be 1,000 to 2,000 divots in the giant tank's foam insulation
and minor surface damage to about 26 heat shield tiles on the
shuttle's left wing. Further evaluation of the tank is necessary to
get an accurate accounting of foam damage and must be done in the
Vehicle Assembly Building, where the entire tank can be more easily
accessed. The shuttle is expected to be moved off the pad by early
next week.

Once an up-close look at the damage is complete, the type of repair
required and the time needed for that work can be determined.
Atlantis' flight, STS-117, to the International Space Station will be
scheduled sometime after a Russian Soyuz spacecraft returns from the
station. The Soyuz is delivering new station crew members and
returning others back to Earth in late April. Adequate time is needed
between the Soyuz undocking and the shuttle's arrival to the station.

STS-117 Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and mission
specialists Jim Reilly, Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson and John
"Danny" Olivas will continue training at NASA's Johnson Space Center,
Houston, as they await a new target launch date. During the 11-day
mission, the astronauts will work with the station crew and ground
teams to install a new truss segment, unfold a new set of solar
arrays and retract one array on the starboard side of the station.

Space Shuttle Program managers are gathered at the Kennedy Space
Center for the traditional Flight Readiness Review for the mission.
During the two-day meeting, NASA managers and engineers assess any
risks associated with the mission and determine whether the shuttle's
equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight. The
meeting, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, will continue as
planned.

For information about the STS-117 crew and mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

-end-

theres NO WAY the station will be complete anywhere near the end date
for the shuttle.

It just isnt going to happen.

They will need a new tank, not at KSC.

The delays just keep adding up

baalke@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1172627449.918082.172800@p10g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...
Feb. 27, 2007

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Kyle Herring/Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

RELEASE: 07-60

HAIL DAMAGE FORCES SHUTTLE ATLANTIS OFF LAUNCH PAD

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA decided Tuesday to roll the space shuttle
Atlantis off its launch pad and back inside the Vehicle Assembly
Building at the Kennedy Space Center. Managers made the decision
after a hail storm Monday damaged the orbiter's External Tank. A new
target launch date has not been determined, but teams will focus on
preparing Atlantis for liftoff in late April.

On Monday, a severe thunderstorm with golf ball-size hail caused what
could be 1,000 to 2,000 divots in the giant tank's foam insulation
and minor surface damage to about 26 heat shield tiles on the
shuttle's left wing. Further evaluation of the tank is necessary to
get an accurate accounting of foam damage and must be done in the
Vehicle Assembly Building, where the entire tank can be more easily
accessed. The shuttle is expected to be moved off the pad by early
next week.


I hope they design Orion to stay in a hanger until the day of launch. IMO
space ships should not be stored outside for any length of time.

Danny Deger

P.S. The more I think about it, the happier I am I took an early
retirement from NASA.

theres NO WAY the station will be complete anywhere near the end date
for the shuttle.

It just isnt going to happen.

They will need a new tank, not at KSC.

The delays just keep adding up

Oh come on you can't blame them for the weather, surely!
:-)

Brian

--
Brian Gaff - briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
"Danny Deger" <dannydeger@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:45e4fbf8$0$28086$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...

baalke@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1172627449.918082.172800@p10g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...
Feb. 27, 2007

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Kyle Herring/Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

RELEASE: 07-60

HAIL DAMAGE FORCES SHUTTLE ATLANTIS OFF LAUNCH PAD

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA decided Tuesday to roll the space shuttle
Atlantis off its launch pad and back inside the Vehicle Assembly
Building at the Kennedy Space Center. Managers made the decision
after a hail storm Monday damaged the orbiter's External Tank. A new
target launch date has not been determined, but teams will focus on
preparing Atlantis for liftoff in late April.

On Monday, a severe thunderstorm with golf ball-size hail caused what
could be 1,000 to 2,000 divots in the giant tank's foam insulation
and minor surface damage to about 26 heat shield tiles on the
shuttle's left wing. Further evaluation of the tank is necessary to
get an accurate accounting of foam damage and must be done in the
Vehicle Assembly Building, where the entire tank can be more easily
accessed. The shuttle is expected to be moved off the pad by early
next week.


I hope they design Orion to stay in a hanger until the day of launch.
IMO space ships should not be stored outside for any length of time.

Danny Deger

P.S. The more I think about it, the happier I am I took an early
retirement from NASA.

On Feb 27, 9:26 pm, "hall...@aol.com" <hall...@aol.com> wrote:



theres NO WAY the station will be complete anywhere near the end date
for the shuttle.

It just isnt going to happen.

They will need a new tank, not at KSC.

The delays just keep adding up

Loopy pessimism aside...it doesn't seem like this is impacting
STS-118's target launch date of June. Anyone hear otherwise?

I'd wager the next ET is at KSC and available for a possible ET swap
due to the standing requirement an STS-300 style rescue be possible
these days...that is, if NASA decides such a change is necessary.

-A.L.

I hope they design Orion to stay in a hanger until the day of launch.  IMO
space ships should not be stored outside for any length of time.

Danny Deger

P.S. The more I think about it, the happier I am I took an early
retirement from NASA.

KSC has NO TANK on site.

KSC has NO TANK on site.



So, the tank will likely be patched up in the VAB I guess.

KSC has NO TANK on site.



So, the tank will likely be patched up in the VAB I guess.

I doubt NASA could trust such a repaired tank. There's probably lots of
cracks and such that would cause massive amounts of falling foam during
launch. And you know how hazardous that is to a shuttle.