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Shuttle passes inspection, docks with ISS |
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Written by Derek Kessler on
Sunday, 10 June 2007
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 The Space Shuttle Atlantis has passed both a self-inspection and an external inspection by the International Space Station crew of the heat sheilding, and has completed docking procedures with the ISS. While docked at the ISS the crews will work to install additional trusses for the station's solar panel arrays and perform a swap of astronauts.
The astronauts in orbit and NASA engineers on the ground are focusing on a section of a thermal blanket on the Atlantis that appears to have been ripped or dislodged during launch. They are not yet certain if it was hit by debris or simply came undone from the vibrations of the launch. The blanket covers part of the main engines mounted to the rear of the shuttle, right now it is not considered to be a serious risk to the shuttle's return to Earth.
 The Atlantis crew also performed an inspection of the shuttle's protective heat tiles along the bottom and leading edges of the craft. The fragile tiles shield the occupants and equipment inside from heat in excess of 1600° C caused by atmospheric friction during reentry. Foam insulation shedding from the shuttle's disposable external fuel tank ripped a hole in leading edge of the Space Shuttle Columbia's wing in 2003. When it reentered the atmosphere, the superheated plasma entered the wing and melted the shuttle from the inside out. The Columbia was completely destroyed and all seven astronauts aboard were killed, and the space shuttle program was grounded for three years. NASA's engineers have grown very concerned about the risks the shuttles face from falling debris and redesigned the tank to lessen the risk. Even so, a freak hail storm in February of this year damaged the fuel tank of Atlantis while it was on the launch pad. NASA withdrew the shuttle and spent two months repairing the foam insulation before they were satisfied that the shuttle could be safely launched.
An inspection was also performed by the crew of the ISS as the Atlantis approached for docking. In a new procedure instituted after the loss of the Columbia, the shuttle performed a 360 somersault to expose the belly to the eyes of the ISS. Neither inspection has discovered any serious damage. At 3:38 EDT the shuttle completed docking with the ISS. Sunita Williams, who has been on the ISS since December, will be trading places with Clayton Anderson who rode up to the station on the Atlantis. Williams will be returning to Earth with the shuttle.
 While docked the shuttle will offload new segments for the International Space Station, including parts that will extend the starboard trusses and a third set of solar arrays to power future additions to the station. They are expected to be installed during a spacewalk on Monday. NASA engineers will also issue a ruling on the torn insulation blanket, likely ordering it reattached using the onboard repair kit including since the Columbia disaster. The Atlantis is expected to remain in orbit for 11 days and return to Cape Canaveral.
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