久久亚洲国产成人影院-久久亚洲国产的中文-久久亚洲国产高清-久久亚洲国产精品-亚洲图片偷拍自拍-亚洲图色视频

  Home>News Center>World
         
 

NASA seeks methods to repair shuttles in flight
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-07 08:57

NASA is hoping techniques that would enable a crew to repair damages to a space shuttle in flight will be ready for the shuttle's planned May 2005 return to space, officials with the agency said on Monday.

The shuttle's launch, which has been delayed several times, would be the first flight since the Columbia broke apart as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere in February, 2003.

That disaster, which killed the seven astronauts aboard the shuttle and rained debris down on east Texas, was caused by cracks in the protective tiles that were struck by a piece of foam during the shuttle's launch.

NASA hopes that closer in-flight inspections and repairs -- once thought impossible -- could prevent a repeat of that incident.

"It still is a challenge in front of us. We still have a long way to go," Bill Parsons, space shuttle program manager, told a news conference.

NASA will use new sensors that could detect potential problems and has been developing materials and procedures to repair the tiles and reinforced carbon panels during flight.

However, the launch of Discovery, currently planned for between May 12 to June 2, 2005, would not be delayed if those techniques were not perfected.

"I think in a state of emergency we would have a technique we would be ready to put forth," Parsons said.

Since the Columbia disaster, NASA has altered the launch vehicle that propels the shuttle off the launch pad and out of the Earth's atmosphere in order to reduce the debris shed by the craft.

New techniques for applying foam to the launch vehicle have reduced the size of debris that can break off to no larger than 0.008 pound, well below the 0.03 pound threshold that can cause damage to the shuttle, Wayne Hale, the deputy program manager, told the press conference.

The piece of debris blamed for damaging the Columbia's tiles weighed more than one pound.

The latest delay to the shuttle's launch was blamed on several lost work days because of the four hurricanes that buffeted Florida and the Kennedy Space Center there.

NASA officials said they were hopeful they would be ready for the May launch window but would not proceed unless they were certain the preparations were adequate.

"We are going to fly when we determine the vehicle is ready to fly," Hale said. "We're not going to succumb to some kind of emotional schedule pressure because we picked a date and ringed it on a calendar and we think our reputation depends on launching on that date."



 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

Record deals inked with Germany, Italy

 

   
 

Presidents tout strong relations with Italy

 

   
 

Poor mines barred, on hold

 

   
 

Polluters ignore environmental laws

 

   
 

Khatami: Iran's democratic reforms failed

 

   
 

9 killed in attack on US mission in Saudi

 

   
  Twelve killed in attack on US mission
   
  7 blasts reported in Spain after ETA threats
   
  Bush determined to see Iraqis vote January 30
   
  Russia: Korea nuke talks in late Jan.
   
  Taliban vows to disrupt Karzai's swearing in
   
  Russia tempers support for Ukraine leader in crisis
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
NASA postpones launch of super-fast jet to Tuesday
   
Shuttle's Spring 2005 launch date delayed
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 日本一区二区三区四区五区 | 久9视频这里只有精品 | 欧美成人全部费免网站 | 免费男女乱淫真视频播放 | 国产精品日产三级在线观看 | 一区二三区国产 | 最新欧美一级视频 | 亚洲美女aⅴ久久久91 | 成人免费小视频 | 欧美成人私人视频88在线观看 | 亚洲三级免费 | 久久经典视频 | 99精品久久久久久久免费看蜜月 | 国产精品黄网站免费观看 | 亚洲精彩 | 国产三级日本三级在线播放 | 欧美午夜网站 | 亚洲99爱| 国产一进一出视频网站 | 美女扒开腿让男人桶个爽 | www成人在线观看 | 成人黄色免费看 | 日韩免费精品一级毛片 | 成人免费a视频 | 国产一级内谢a级高清毛片 国产一级片毛片 | 亚洲国产欧美一区二区欧美 | 深夜福利视频在线观看免费播放 | 三级视频在线播放线观看 | 99精品视频99 | 日韩成人在线视频 | 怡红院免费播放全部视频 | 日本欧美视频在线 | 看成年女人免费午夜视频 | 欧美一级毛片片免费 | 99免费在线播放99久久免费 | 成人黄网大全在线观看 | 免费男女乱淫真视频播放 | 欧美国产精品不卡在线观看 | 三级毛片免费看 | 生活片毛片 | 美女被cao免费看在线看网站 |