The Space Shuttle Atlantis has received at least a 4 inch hole on its Thermal Protection System (TPS) on one of the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pods near the thrusters after it took off on June 8, but officials say the damage is not concerning yet.
The photo released showed a small exposed area in thermal blankets on the left side of the shuttle near the thrusters Atlantis uses to move about in orbit, “There’s not a whole lot of concerns just yet,” said a spokesman for NASA, Louis Parker.
The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, shortly before concluding its 28th mission, STS-107. The loss of the Columbia was caused by damage sustained during launch when a piece of foam insulation the size of a small briefcase broke off. The debris struck the leading edge of the left wing on the number 8 reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) tile, damaging the Shuttle’s thermal protection system (TPS). While Columbia was still in orbit, some engineers suspected damage, but NASA managers limited the investigation on the grounds that little could be done even if problems were found.
Few days ago officials with the NASA said a possible strike by several hundred workers at Kennedy Space Center wouldn’t affect the planned launch of the space shuttle Atlantis on Friday.
Space workers who rejected a contract offer from United Space Alliance last weekend could go on strike as early as Saturday, just a day after the first attempt to launch Atlantis, officials said. So far, no decision has been made on when to strike. A spokeswoman for the United Space Alliance said the company was open to further contract talks, but as of Monday none were occurring.