Hail Damage Forces Shuttle Atlantis Off Launch Pad

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02.27.07

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Kyle Herring/Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468 

RELEASE: 07-60

HAIL DAMAGE FORCES SHUTTLE ATLANTIS OFF LAUNCH PAD

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA decided Tuesday to roll the Space Shuttle 
Atlantis off its launch pad and back inside the Vehicle Assembly 
Building at the Kennedy Space Center. Managers made the decision 
after a hail storm Monday damaged the orbiter's external tank. A new 
target launch date has not been determined, but teams will focus on 
preparing Atlantis for liftoff in late April.

On Monday, a severe thunderstorm with golf ball-size hail caused what 
could be 1,000 to 2,000 divots in the giant tank's foam insulation 
and minor surface damage to about 26 heat shield tiles on the 
shuttle's left wing. Further evaluation of the tank is necessary to 
get an accurate accounting of foam damage and must be done in the 
Vehicle Assembly Building, where the entire tank can be more easily 
accessed. The shuttle is expected to be moved off the pad by early 
next week.

Once an up-close look at the damage is complete, the type of repair 
required and the time needed for that work can be determined. 
Atlantis' flight, STS-117, to the International Space Station will be 
scheduled sometime after a Russian Soyuz spacecraft returns from the 
station. The Soyuz is delivering new station crew members and 
returning others back to Earth in late April. Adequate time is needed 
between the Soyuz undocking and the shuttle's arrival to the station.

STS-117 Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and Mission 
Specialists Jim Reilly, Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson and John 
"Danny" Olivas will continue training at NASA's Johnson Space Center, 
Houston, as they await a new target launch date. During the 11-day 
mission, the astronauts will work with the station crew and ground 
teams to install a new truss segment, unfold a new set of solar 
arrays and retract one array on the starboard side of the station.

Space Shuttle Program managers are gathered at the Kennedy Space 
Center for the traditional Flight Readiness Review for the mission. 
During the two-day meeting, NASA managers and engineers assess any 
risks associated with the mission and determine whether the shuttle's 
equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight. The 
meeting, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, will continue as 
planned.

For information about the STS-117 crew and mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

	
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