STS-101 Atlantis Mission Landed Successfully

The Associated Press, in checking NASA internal documents disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act, has found that a gas breach, similar to the one that is believed to have destroyed Columbia, also occured on Atlantis, during STS-101, just over three years ago.

The AP reported that Atlantis, which had a number of parts replaced after the mission, gave testimony to the heat produced: "Other parts immediately behind the wing panels were covered with a glassy material, apparently from melted insulating tile and other sealant material," the AP noted.

Atlantis flew again (photo) just four months later, repaired and in fine shape; Columbia broke up in the air, on re-entry, killing all seven of her astronauts. The Atlantis breach was not caused by debris, as Columbia's was thought to have been; it was caused, NASA believes, by improper application of sealant. NASA revised sealant-installation procedures as a result.

Interestingly, Atlantis's damage from the faulty sealant may have been ameliorated by a launch event: a piece of ice was observed to have hit the starboard wing of that machine, as STS-101 lifted off; the re-entry flight profile was, documents noted, altered, to keep temperatures down.

That action may have kept Atlantis's sealant problem from becoming worse. Columbia's re-entry flight profile is believed to have gone by the book, unaltered, because NASA officials were unconcerned with the foam strike that occurred during this January's launch.

Halsell was the pilot for STS-65 in 1994 and STS-74 in 1995, and mission commander for STS-83 in 1997, STS-94 in 1997, and STS-101 in 2000. He was slated last December to head STS-120, whenever that mission takes off.

Additional interesting coincidences are emerging, as the tale of STS-101 (Atlantis) and STS-107 (Columbia) gets blended: Colonel Halsell, who commanded STS-101, is now heading NASA's effort to return Shuttles to flight status; and Atlantis is the next Shuttle in the rotation for launch, whenever that mission is cleared.

FMI: www.spaceflight.nasa.gov