Repaired Space Shuttle Atlantis Ready for Take-Off
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NASA workers have completed the delicate work of repairing the launch pad on the shuttle Atlantis, which is scheduled to lift off on August 27, 2006. The mission is to resume construction of the International Space Station, which has been stalled since the 2003 Columbia disaster.
NASA decided to swap two of the four bolts holding Atlantis' main communications antenna in place, as they were found to be dangerously short, and liable to pop out during liftoff with potentially cataclysmic results.
Replacing the bolts, while the shuttle was in a vertical state has been a risky and unprecedented repair work. Atlantis had already been moved to the launch pad when the error was brought to the attention of NASA managers. Replacing the bolts while the shuttle was in a vertical position at the pad greatly complicated the procedure.
Kennedy Space Center spokeswoman, Tracy Young confirmed that the wrong bolts have been in place since Atlantis was manufactured 25 years ago. Torque tests showed that the antenna was securely anchored. However, as a precaution, the changes were made. 'As a precaution, we changed them out anyway. Better to be safe than sorry,' she said.
NASA workers have completed the delicate work of repairing the launch pad on the shuttle Atlantis, which is scheduled to lift off on August 27, 2006. The mission is to resume construction of the International Space Station, which has been stalled since the 2003 Columbia disaster.NASA decided to swap two of the four bolts holding Atlantis' main communications antenna in place, as they were found to be dangerously short, and liable to pop out during liftoff with potentially cataclysmic results.
Replacing the bolts, while the shuttle was in a vertical state has been a risky and unprecedented repair work. Atlantis had already been moved to the launch pad when the error was brought to the attention of NASA managers. Replacing the bolts while the shuttle was in a vertical position at the pad greatly complicated the procedure.
Kennedy Space Center spokeswoman, Tracy Young confirmed that the wrong bolts have been in place since Atlantis was manufactured 25 years ago. Torque tests showed that the antenna was securely anchored. However, as a precaution, the changes were made. 'As a precaution, we changed them out anyway. Better to be safe than sorry,' she said.
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