News From Space!

It wasn’t just a crack in the foam - a piece of the External Tank’s insulation actually fell out. Will this cause another delay? NASA reports:

Status Update
Shuttle managers are moving forward with the countdown for a July 4
launch, as engineers continue to investigate a piece of foam that came off the external fuel tank. The foam — from a bracket that holds the liquid oxygen feedline in place — was not big enough to have damaged the shuttle had it come off during flight.

The mission management team will meet again tonight to consider the issue.

Briefing Materials
Liquid Oxygen Feedline Bracket Image:
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Location of Liquid Oxygen Feedline Bracket:
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A 5-in crack has been found in the External Tank’s foam insulation. Will this jeopardize tomorrow’s launch? NASA reports:

Status Update - 10 a.m.
During a routine inspection overnight after the draining of the tank, a crack was discovered in the foam near a bracket on the external fuel tank that holds the liquid oxygen feedline in place. The Mission Management Team is meeting to discuss this and to determine what, if any, impact this will have on our launch date.

The Mission Management Team will conduct a briefing on NASA TV following the meeting no earlier than today at noon EDT. Questions will only be taken by the media at the Kennedy Space Center.
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Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.