Launch-Damage Detection Enhanced by Clear View

Since the Columbia's last mission, more emphasis than ever before has been focused on in-flight and launch damage, with an eye to immediate detection, and in-flight repair.

No longer will anything be taken for granted, no matter how often the event has proven inconsequential in the past.

The Columbia's port wing leading edge was hit by a piece of foam just after liftoff; this type of thing had happened several times before, on other missions, and NASA did not, at the time, consider the foam strike a potential danger. Subsequent tests have confirmed that such a foam strike can indeed pose a mission-critical danger; and the independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board, due to convene in D.C. this Thursday, may come back with a determination that this foam strike did indeed cause the in-flight breakup.

Better visibility will allow better monitoring of any such events; and better visibility can be achieved only in daylight. NASA made it official late last week: from now on, Shuttle launches (and presumably all manned space flights) will initiate in daylight.

FMI: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov