August 16, 2007

Sciencedude: Tile repair for shuttle Endeavour

Gary Robbins

NASA said today that it has told the crew of space shuttle Endeavour to prepare to repair a 3.5 inch gouge in the orbiter’s heat shield. The space agency hasn’t formally scheduled the repair. But it’s likely to occur during a spacewalk on Saturday. Florida NASA might extend Endeavour’s mission two days, meaning that the shuttle wouldn’t undock from the International Space Station until Aug. 22.

The Endeavour crew has been given this afternoon off to rest.

On Wednesday, astronaut Rick Mastracchio had to cut his spacewalk short when he discovered a tiny hole in his glove. The hole didn’t go all the way to his skin. But NASA ordered him to return to the shuttle immediately to avoid problems. That left his fellow spacewalker Clay Anderson all alone. Fellow shuttlenaut Tracy Caldwell, a Cal State Fullerton grad, offered to sing to keep him company.