Micrometeroid Strikes Window, Damage Minor

NASA's Mission Management Team has determined a gouge on the underside of the space shuttle Endeavour will not need to be repaired before the orbiter returns to Earth next week.

As ANN reported, NASA engineers spent an extra day deliberating whether or not to repair a gouge in the heat resistant tiles on Endeavour's belly, which was caused by foam insulation striking the orbiter. The MMT previously said the damage likely wouldn't require repair to ensure the safety of the astronauts, although there was some question whether the damaged tiles would allow the shuttle's exposed aluminum skin to heat up enough to cause non-catastrophic damage to Endeavour.

There's still some question whether the decision to fly Endeavour home as-is will cause delays in prepping the orbiter for its next mission... but when weighed against the probability of risk in adding another extravehicular activity to the STS-118 crew's list of duties, in order to attempt an unproven repair, NASA decided to take the chance.

Meanwhile, on Thursday the hits just kept coming for Endeavour... literally. NASASpaceflight.com reports the STS-118 crew recorded images this week of a MMOD (micrometeoroid/orbiting debris) strike to the thermal pane of forward window 2, located on the port side of the orbiter. The strike was classified as minor, and does not pose a threat to astronauts onboard the shuttle.

On Thursday morning, Mission Specialists Barbara Morgan and Alvin Drew (above) participated in an education event with students at the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Alexandria, VA. The center is honoring Morgan with the President George H.W. Bush Leadership Award, its top award.

Morgan, an educator who became an astronaut, was first selected by NASA in 1985 as the backup to original Teacher in Space Christa McAuliffe. Following the loss of the shuttle Challenger in 1986, Morgan continued to work with NASA on educational activities and returned to teaching elementary school in Idaho. She was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998, as family members of the Challenger crew looked on.

Morgan and Drew also talked with several television reporters. Just before 1300 EDT, Morgan used a HAM radio to talk with students in McCall, ID.

The STS-118 and Expedition 15 crews are continuing cargo transfers that began shortly after Endeavour docked August 10. Endeavour delivered supplies and equipment to the station, most of which were located in the pressurized Spacehab module in the payload bay. Spacehab will carry items, including science experiments, back to Earth.

Both crews were able to take Thursday afternoon off, to take in the scenery... or get some needed rest.

Mission managers did decide to move the flight’s fourth spacewalk from Friday to Saturday. If the repair isn’t done, that spacewalk will see installation of two antennas and removal of one, installation of a stowage stand for the shuttle’s orbiter boom sensor system and other tasks.

With the final decision now made on the tile repair, the MMT will next turn its attention to a small tear in astronaut Rick Mastracchio's glove, which occurred during Wednesday's spacewalk. Engineers will weight options on how this will affect the mission's fourth spacewalk, now set for Saturday.

FMI: www.nasa.gov