Foam covering the brackets running along this external tank must be replaced with a lighter foam before STS-122 launches in December. Similar repairs were made on another tank that will carry Discovery into space on Oct. 23. This tank was delivered on Friday and moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building. Photo by Patrick Peterson.
During a press conference in Houston, shuttle program manager Wayne Hale expressed confidence that replacing foam coverings over aluminum brackets on several external tanks would not delay launches and prevent the construction of the International Space Station before 2010.
"I'm very optimistic we will be able to complete the ISS and repair the Hubble (telescope) next year at this time as well," said Hale Friday.
Launches on Oct. 23 and Dec. 6 are on scheduled despite the necessity of replacing foam that covers aluminum brackets on a fuel line running down the external tank. A foam chunk covering one bracket popped off during the August launch of Endeavour and damaged the orbiter's thermal tile.
A tank on an April flight and on later flights will have titanium brackets that are designed to elimiate foam loss from the brackets.
"It's inherent due to the design of that tank that we will always have foam loss," said Hale.
During the STS-120 mission, Discovery's crew will add a module that will serve as a port for installing additional international laboratories. The Harmony module will be the first expansion of the living and working space on the complex since the Russian Pirs airlock was installed in 2001. The mission also will move the first set of solar arrays installed on the station to a permanent location on the complex and redeploy them.
On a fifth spacewalk, the crew will also test a tile repair method similar to a caulk gun.
"We have completely redesigned the applicator," said Hale. "The time has come to do an in-flight demonstration and see if if really works."
Hale also said NASA is struggling to come up with an incentive plan to keep valued employees as the shuttle program ends in 2010 and the Constellation program begins.
Financial incentives will be offered to employees to prevent them from slipping to other industries.
Hale said keeping key employees was his biggest concern.
"It's the No. 1 thing on my radar screen," he said.
How about a little tie pin or a sticker of some sort for incentive?
ReplyDelete"Hale said keeping key employees was his biggest concern."
ReplyDeleteUnless of cousre you are union represented.
No one cares about that union, bunch of dummies.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for that intelligent rebuttal.
ReplyDeleteThe IAM brought on their own pain no one else is to blame.
ReplyDeleteSems to me that all you non-union pukes are really scared!!! Maybe you are the ones that will not have a job at EOP right!!! Maybe YOU think you would like to have the jobs that us union DUMMIES perform right!!! Maybe your afraid that your so called skills will not be needed in the future program right!! Hmmm! Hey I got an idea, maybe as all you non-union pukes have said to us all along, use your true talents and see if BURGER KING, TACO BELL, WENDYS, or some other minimal qualification employer can utilize you!!!
ReplyDeleteNow that was about a dense reply. Speaking from the side that has a little insight into upcoming contract proposals....what ever makes you think that it would involve union personel. I hope you do realize, that the next contracts could and most likely will utilze personnel that have specific certifications and qualifications to perform tasks like HVAC, LIFTS, RIGGING, and
ReplyDeleteno matter what you have been TOLD, the union does not have specific hold on those type certifications. There are plently of folk at KSC that hold those certs and are not part of a union. So be carefull about spouting end of program pitfalls, as you might be at the edge looking down lik a lot of other folks. Believe me, the non-union are not the only ones that can be replaced.
Seems to me that your response is just a touch more dense than the statement I made earlier! The only way that non-union personnel will fill a union slot is if there is a need of certified persons to fill any opening at that time. The company can and most likely will create jobs for a certain amount of qualified people for the next program. I would be willing to bet that the ratio of people who lose their jobs will be far greater in the non-union sector. Many people union and non alike stand to lose at EOP!! To you I say keep on spouting yourself and maybe I will see you on the other side someday!!
ReplyDeleteHolding certifications and being qualified for certifications are two entirely different things. This strike has shown that. Safety suffers when those who are not qualified are deemed qualified just by the stroke of a pen.
ReplyDelete