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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 27, 1995)
Damaged o-ring in second shuttle By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - For the second space shuttle flight in a row, NASA has found heat damage on a critical O-ring seal in a rocket booster used by Discovery this month. It’s the same nozzle joint in which the problem occurred on Atlantis,only this time it’s in the right booster, NASA said today. * 4 Hot gas from burning rocket fuel singed the primary rubber seal in the joint but did not pass beyond the seal. Neither of the shuttles nor crews were in any danger, NASA officials said. Discovery returned safely from a nine-day science mission Saturday. National Aeronautics and Space Administration spokeswoman Lisa Malone said the damage to Discovery’s O-ring seal was less than on the Atlantis booster seal. Engineers will evaluate all the data i before recommending whether it’s safe ] to fly Endeavour next week. 1 A leak in a joint in a solid rocket i booster caused Challenger toexplode i shortly after liftoff in 1986. A nozzle failure in this case could cause the I shuttle to veer dangerously off course < during the first two minutes of flight, i Atlantis blasted off June 27 on the ! first shuttle docking mission with i Russia’s space station Mir and re turned July 7. Discovery was launched l July 13 - at six days the shortest gap i ever between U.S. human space flights. « NASA did not leam of the problem l with Atlantis’ booster until four days i into Discovery’s flight, prompting questions about whether the space 1 agency should allow more time be- : tween missions. i Shuttle Director Bryan O’Connor i said managers will decide by early ' next week whether it’s safe to fly the i shuttles while investigating the O-ring iroblem, or whether the fleet should )e grounded until the problem is re solved. That could take months, he said. Seymour Himmel, a Cleveland >ased propulsion expert and member >f NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advi sory Panel, said the problem could be serious now that it’s been discovered n back-to-back flights. “Now that they have two of these hings, it would lead me to say this is lot a statistical fluke but a true inomaly, that there is something po entially systemic about this,” Himmel old the Houston Chronicle. During a launch, the twin 15-story xioster rockets bum for two of the 81 / l minutes it takes the shuttles to reach irbit. The boosters then peel away ind fall by parachute into the Atlantic 3cean, where they are recovered and efurbished for future flights. RADERS Business Interiors Robin Mentzer, Your UNL Office Furniture Specialist 330 S. 13th St. 438-6557 ATTENTION AUGUST GRADUATES Measurement For Cap & Gown Rental Thursday & Friday July 27 & 28 8:30-4:30 Lower Level Nebraska Union ________ _ _ Susie Kiene/DN Waiting for fall Memorial Stadium stands ready for the 1995 season of the National Champion Cornhuskers. THE WfiY HOME E5,B MEDITATION it's more than you think... we have the meditation books, tapes, incense, and spiritual tools to help you find inner peace. 3231 S. 13tll In the Indian Village Shopping Center 421-1701 Hours M-F: 10-7 Sat: 10-6 Sun:12-5 _JSINCE 1986 YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR INTERESTING MUSIC & BOOKS’ ( ISCONTMJED 'l BIRKENSTOCK SALE! July 27th, 28th & 29th 20% OFF, Dfcconttoed Styles h* Select Colors & Sizes And 20% OFF ALL In-Stock Chidren's Birkenstocks! FOOTLOOSE & FANCY 1219 P STREET Free Parking 476-618 Mon.-Sat 10-&30and Thure. 18 J