There's a hole in my Shuttle

Was just watching Beeb about this. Given we don't want another tragedy like last time which website will update this mission status?

DW go and fetch your glue!

Silly question possibly here (not my first) but why do they still use tiles? Why not a continuous surface? And why does the glue or whatever which holds the tiles on seem to keep failing?

It's fine. The hard-core analysis was just done and they're content to leave it as is for now. The engineers are confident that should the Shuttle have to reenter early, for whatever unlikely reason (there are plenty), it would be fine. They still may schedule a spacewalk to test out the various repair methods, however.


Because tiles are still better than almost anything out there and reengineering the shuttle to use something new isn't warranted. The glue holds just fine. Remember, the problem isn't the tiles, it's environmentalists who lobbied for a change in the type of was foam insulation on the external tank. The foam shedding issue has been pretty much fixed. The ice that hit the tiles this time came off of a stantion that has been reengineered and will start flying early next year.

A chip/gouge/gash of this size and bigger has been seen on the ground dozens and dozens of times. It really is a non-issue.

You have the technical problems involved in manufacturing a continuous surface this size in the type of ceramic used, so if a hole appears in said continuous surface you'd have to replace the whole thing. Tiles are easier and cheaper to replace, and may be done, at a pinch, in space.

As far as I can see, it would be damaged tiles on leading edges that would present the most worrying scenario.

I dont' believe there was a lisa anywhere in that song.

just a thought.

Yeah it was Liza but maybe the ice knocked the letter around the wrong way.