Astronauts begin work to inspect damaged shuttle tile
BY WILLIAM HARWOOD STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION Posted: May 21, 2011
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL--The shuttle Endeavour's crew began work early Saturday to carry out a close-up, focused inspection of a damaged heat shield tile on the belly of the orbiter to help engineers determine whether the ship can safely re-enter Earth's atmosphere as is or whether more analysis or repairs might be needed. NASA managers do not believe the "area of interest" poses a safety threat, but the inspection was ordered to make sure.
An illustration shows the sensor boom under Endeavour for the "focused inspection" work. Credit: NASA TV
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Because of clearance issues, the space station's robot arm was used to pull Endeavour's heat shield inspection boom, or OBSS, out of the ship's cargo bay for hand off to the shuttle's 50-foot-long arm. Pilot Gregory Johnson, overseeing a series of computerized maneuvers, plans to position the arm under the shuttle's right side for close-up photos and laser scans to precisely measure the dimensions and depth of the gouge.
The data will be downlinked to the Johnson Space Center in Houston where NASA's Damage Assessment Team will be standing by to carry out a detailed evaluation. The damaged tile, located between the right main landing gear door and a liquid oxygen feed line port, is the only area of concern with the shuttle's heat shield that has not yet been cleared for entry.
At 7:11 a.m. EDT (GMT-4), the astronauts plan to take a call from Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. The shuttle-station crew includes two Italians -- station flight engineer Paolo Nespoli and Endeavour flight engineer Roberto Vittori -- and the VIP call will be the first from a pope to an orbiting spacecraft.
The rest of the crew's day will be devoted to making preparations for a spacewalk Sunday by astronauts Andrew Feustel and Michael Fincke to recharge a solar array ammonia coolant reservoir.
The shuttle crew is scheduled to go to bed at 1:26 p.m. with a wakeup call expected at 9:26 p.m. A mission status briefing is planned for 11:30 a.m. followed by a Mission Management Team update at 4 p.m. to review the focused inspection.
Here is an updated timeline of the crew's planned activities for flight day six (in EDT and mission elapsed time; includes revision E of the NASA television schedule; best viewed with fixed-width font):
DATE/EDT...DD...HH...MM...SS...EVENT
05/20
09:26 PM...04...12...30...00...STS crew wakeup
05/21
12:31 AM...04...15...35...00...Station arm (SSRMS) grapples inspection boom (OBSS)
12:56 AM...04...16...00...00...OBSS unberth
01:11 AM...04...16...15...00...Quick-disconnect mod
01:21 AM...04...16...25...00...OBSS handoff to shuttle arm (SRMS)
01:36 AM...04...16...40...00...SSRMS ungrapple
02:01 AM...04...17...05...00...ISS crew wakeup
02:11 AM...04...17...15...00...SRMS maneuver review
02:41 AM...04...17...45...00...Focused inspection begins
03:01 AM...04...18...05...00...ISS daily planning conference
03:41 AM...04...18...45...00...REBA checkout
03:56 AM...04...19...00...00...EVA-2: Equipment lock preps
04:26 AM...04...19...30...00...Crew meals begin
04:41 AM...04...19...45...00...Focused inspection ends
05:41 AM...04...20...45...00...Laser scan (LDRI) downlink
07:11 AM...04...22...15...00...PAO event (Pope Benedict XVI calls shuttle crew)
07:31 AM...04...22...35...00...EVA-2: Tools configured
08:36 AM...04...23...40...00...LDRI downlink
09:21 AM...05...00...25...00...EVA-2: Procedures review
10:00 AM...05...01...04...00...Replay of PAO event with Pope Benedict XVI
11:30 AM...05...02...34...00...Mission status briefing on NTV
11:51 AM...05...02...55...00...EVA-2: Mask pre-breathe
12:36 PM...05...03...40...00...EVA-2: Airlock depress to 10.2 psi
12:56 PM...05...04...00...00...Garan sleep begins
01:26 PM...05...04...30...00...STS crew sleep begins
02:00 PM...05...05...04...00...Replay of PAO event with Pope Benedict XVI
03:16 PM...05...06...20...00...ISS evening planning conference
04:00 PM...05...07...04...00...Mission Management Team briefing on NTV
05:31 PM...05...08...35...00...ISS crew sleep begins
06:45 PM...05...09...49...00...Flight director update on NTV
08:45 PM...05...11...49...00...Flight director update replay on NTV
09:26 PM...05...12...30...00...STS crew/Garan wakeup
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FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
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SPACEWALKER INSTALLS NEW ANTENNA PLAY
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ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER ANIMATION PLAY | HI-DEF
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WEDNESDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
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EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER NO. 3 INSTALLED PLAY
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PALLET HANDED FROM SHUTTLE ARM TO STATION ARM PLAY
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SPARE PARTS CARRIER UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE PLAY
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A LOOK AT SPARE PARTS RIDING ON PALLET PLAY | HI-DEF
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ANIMATED EXPLANATION OF ELC NO. 3 INSTALL PLAY | HI-DEF
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WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY | HI-DEF
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ENDEAVOUR CREW WELCOMED ABOARD STATION PLAY | HI-DEF
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SHUTTLE AND STATION BROUGHT TO FIRM CONNECTION PLAY
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FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS REEL PLAY
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INSPECTION BOOM UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE BAY PLAY
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TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY | HI-DEF
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PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 2 PLAY | HI-DEF
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ASTRONAUTS' FLIGHT DAY 1 HOME MOVIES PLAY | HI-DEF
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FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS REEL PLAY
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THE FULL STS-134 LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 070 PLAY | HI-DEF
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LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 071 PLAY | HI-DEF
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LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
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LAUNCH REPLAY: PATRICK AFB PLAY | HI-DEF
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CREW ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
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ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS PLAY | HI-DEF
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CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY | HI-DEF
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BEAUTY SHOTS OF ENDEAVOUR ON THE PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
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ROTATING SERVICE STRUCTURE RETRACTED PLAY | HI-DEF
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TIME-LAPSE OF SUNDAY'S GANTRY ROLLBACK PLAY | HI-DEF
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ANOTHER TOWER TIME-LAPSE FROM PAD CAMERA PLAY
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LOOK BACK AT ENDEAVOUR'S LAUNCH DELAY PLAY | HI-DEF
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RECAP OF HEATER PROBLEM AND THE FIX PLAY | HI-DEF
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THE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
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COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER BRIEFING PLAY | HI-DEF
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ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE FOR SECOND COUNTDOWN PLAY | HI-DEF
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ENDEAVOUR LAUNCH RESCHEDULED FOR MAY 16 PLAY
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CHECKING ENDEAVOUR'S WIRING PLAY | HI-DEF
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OLD ALCA-2 BOX OPENED UP FOR FORENSICS PLAY | HI-DEF
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FAILED ALCA-2 BOX REMOVED FROM ENDEAVOUR PLAY | HI-DEF
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WORKING ON OLD AND NEW SWITCHBOXES PLAY | HI-DEF
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LAUNCH OF ENDEAVOUR DELAYED FURTHER PLAY
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PRESIDENT OBAMA ARRIVES AT THE CAPE PLAY | HI-DEF
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TOUR OF ATLANTIS AND ASTRONAUT MEETING PLAY | HI-DEF
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FIRST FAMILY DEPARTS AFTER VISIT PLAY | HI-DEF
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POST-SCRUB NEWS BRIEFING PLAY
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LAUNCH DIRECTOR EXPLAINS SCRUB CALL PLAY | HI-DEF
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SCRUB DECLARED FOR APU NO. 1 HEATER GLITCH PLAY | HI-DEF
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ASTRONAUTS LEAVE QUARTERS BEFORE SCRUB PLAY | HI-DEF
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CREW GETS SUITED UP FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
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TIME-LAPSE OF PAD GANTRY RETRACTING PLAY | HI-DEF
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ENDEAVOUR'S PRE-FLIGHT CAMPAIGN PLAY | HI-DEF
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PAYLOADS' PRE-FLIGHT CAMPAIGN PLAY | HI-DEF
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PREPARING ENDEAVOUR FUEL TANK FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
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COUNTDOWN UPDATE AND WEATHER BRIEFING PLAY
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THE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
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ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT LAUNCH SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
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COUNTDOWN PREVIEW BRIEFING PLAY | HI-DEF
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GUIDED TOUR OF SPACE STATION PLAY | HI-DEF
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ENDEAVOUR MISSION PREVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF
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GET TO KNOW ENDEAVOUR'S ASTRONAUTS PLAY | HI-DEF
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PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH MARK KELLY PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH GREG JOHNSON PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH MIKE FINCKE PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH ROBERTO VITTORI PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH DREW FEUSTEL PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH GREG CHAMITOFF PLAY
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ENDEAVOUR CLEARED FOR APRIL 29 LAUNCH PLAY
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EVACUATION DRESS REHEARSAL PLAY | HI-DEF
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ASTRONAUTS BOARD ENDEAVOUR PLAY | HI-DEF
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SUITING UP FOR PRACTICE COUNT PLAY | HI-DEF
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SHUTTLE INSPECTED FOR STORM DAMAGE PLAY | HI-DEF
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CREW TEST-DRIVES PAD ESCAPE VEHICLE PLAY | HI-DEF
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ASTRONAUT CHAT AT THE PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
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CREW ARRIVES FOR PRACTICE COUNT PLAY | HI-DEF
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PAYLOADS ARRIVE AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
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CANISTER ROTATED UPRIGHT FOR PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
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PALLET OF SPARE PARTS INTO CANISTER PLAY | HI-DEF
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AMS PAYLOAD PUT INTO TRANSPORTER PLAY | HI-DEF
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SHUTTLE AND STATION PROGRAM BRIEFING PLAY
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THE STS-134 MISSION OVERVIEW PRESENTATIONS PLAY
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IN-DEPTH WITH ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER PLAY
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PREVIEW BRIEFING ON MISSION'S SPACEWALKS PLAY
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THE ASTRONAUTS' PRE-FLIGHT NEWS BRIEFING PLAY
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SUN RISES OVER THE LAUNCH PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
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ENDEAVOUR ARRIVES ATOP PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
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ROLLOUT FROM VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
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HOISTING ENDEAVOUR TO TANK AND SRBS PLAY | HI-DEF
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ENDEAVOUR LEAVES PROCESSING HANGAR PLAY | HI-DEF
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PAYLOAD MEDIA DAY PLAY | HI-DEF
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THE ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER PLAY | HI-DEF
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PAYLOAD REMOVED FROM C-5 PLAY | HI-DEF
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AMS ARRIVES FROM EUROPE PLAY | HI-DEF
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EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER NO. 3 PLAY | HI-DEF
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HIGH-PRESSURE OXYGEN GAS TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
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PUTTING STATION ANTENNA ON CARRIER PLAY | HI-DEF
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TANK UNLOADED TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
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THE EXTERNAL FUEL TANK ARRIVES PLAY | HI-DEF
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BOOSTER SEGMENT MOVED TO VAB PLAY | HI-DEF
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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SRB CEREMONY PLAY | HI-DEF
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ENDEAVOUR FITTED WITH MAIN ENGINES PLAY | HI-DEF
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ORBITER TOWED OFF RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF
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