NASA finds 2 potential problems on space shuttle Endeavour

NASA engineers are studying 2 new potential problems on space shuttle Endeavour: a ceramic spacer close to one of shuttle Endeavour’s cockpit windows is sticking out also a tile on top of the crew cabin is cracked.

The issues were identified from scans and photographs taken of the space shuttle as on orbit. But despite how bad they sound NASA deputy shuttle program manager Mr. LeRoy Cain said Wednesday that neither problem appears to be severe.

However, LeRoy Cain said his team wanted to err on the side of caution and ensure that they had “a closer look” just in case there was a danger and spacewalking repairs are necessary.

The warning is a reflection of how much things have changed from years past, when critical problems – like foam coming off the shuttle’s fuel tank — were waved off by NASA management. Chastened by the loss of Columbia and her crew in the year 2003, officials are now very much cautious and thoughtful about each and every shuttle mission.

LeRoy Cain said engineers think that it is unlikely the protruding spacer can fall out of the window and cause any damage as soon as the shuttle reenters the Earth’s atmosphere. If any action was deemed necessary by NASA, Endeavour’s 2 spacewalkers, Mr. Bob Behnken and Mr. Nicholas Patrick, might remove the spacer during one of three spacewalks planned in the shuttle’s stay at the International Space Station in Florida.

As far as the cracked tile goes, Cain said engineers do not think it will root any problems and are unlikely to ask Bob Behnken or Nicholas Patrick to risk making the damage worse by attempting a repair.

LeRoy Cain said engineers would conclude their analysis over the next 3 days.Endeavour arrived at the station early Wednesday and the first of three scheduled spacewalks to attach a new compartment and seven-pane bay window to the station is to start Thursday night.