Launcher problems can be considered finalized

1990/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronautika

NASA officials pointed out about a month ago that fuel leaks found in the tanks of Columbia and Atlantis launchers can be easy to repair with different origin and ready to fly shortly.

The flight of Atlantis was detected in preparation for the launch of a hidden military cargo in late June. Based on the problems previously observed in Columbia, NASA technicians conducted the pre-launch test and found the leak. In order to locate the leak, NASA employees placed plastic covers on the links they considered suspicious in mid-July and showed traces of hydrogen. In this way it was possible to verify that almost all the hydrogen escaped from an airtight junction covered with teflon.

According to NASA experts, to end the leak you can tighten the joint by tightening the screws more and see what happens or bring the launcher to the leg and install a new connection. At first it was considered that the thrower's fuel tank removal tube was about to be disconnected, but it was not so.

Columbia's escape has already been repaired. NASA employees removed the fuel connection system and put Endeavor, the fourth launcher under construction. If they find the origin of the leak and consider it repairable, it is possible to repair the Columbia fuel system and install it in Endeavor.

There is still no concrete data on when they will be projected, but Atlantis will be given priority.

Discovery's release is expected to take place in October, in a short period of time that can receive "gravity help" from Jupiter. In this way it will move towards the orbit around the poles of the Sun accelerating the speed.