Fergie's Tech Blog

Crew uses robotic arm to inspect shuttle for damage

An AP newswire article by Pam Easton, via USA Today, reports:

Discovery's astronauts began their first full day of work in space Wednesday with a carefully orchestrated inspection of the shuttle's wings and nose to detect any damage that may have occurred during liftoff. NASA officials said Tuesday an object that may have been a 1½-inch piece of thermal tile appeared to break off from the Discovery's belly during liftoff. Also, a large object — perhaps a piece of foam insulation — seemed to fly off from the external fuel tank, NASA flight operations manager John Shannon said.

Officials stressed it was too early to say whether there was any danger to the shuttle or its crew. Wednesday's highly sensitive search, which was expected to take about seven hours, uses a sensor attached to a 50-foot extension of the shuttle's robotic arm. The astronauts must be careful not to bump the equipment against the shuttle's fragile exterior.

posted by Fergie @ 7/27/2005 06:25:00 AM