Why NASA is doubling the thickness of a shuttle's fuel tank
In short: Watch technicians perform a precision repair on the space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank. This video captures the delicate process of replacing cracked metal components to ensure the vehicle's structural integrity for its next mission.
Technicians at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A are repairing two metal support beams, known as stringers, on Discovery's external fuel tank. The repair involves removing 13 inches of metal from the cracked areas and installing a 'doubler'—a replacement section of metal that is twice as thick as the original.
The cracks were discovered while filling the tank for the STS-133 mission to the International Space Station. Although the November 5 launch was scrubbed due to a hydrogen gas leak, these structural repairs are essential. The work occurs inside an environmental enclosure to maintain specific temperature and humidity levels before foam insulation is reapplied.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Repairs Made to Shuttle Discovery's External Tank
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