Space Shuttle Ceramic Tiles Strike Columbia

6 tiles often fell off and caused much of the delay in the launch of sts 1 the first shuttle mission which was originally scheduled for 1979 but did not occur.

Space shuttle ceramic tiles strike columbia. Columbia in the orbiter processing facility after its arrival at kennedy space center on 25 march 1979 showing many missing tiles. Space shuttle orbiter thermal protection system tiles are available to educational institutions and museums. Currently 10 tiles have been processed inside the thermal protection system facility. 7 800 of 31 000 tiles were still to be attached.

The silica fibers are mixed with water and chemicals and the mixture is poured into molds which are zapped in microwave ovens at. Space shuttle ceramic tiles. The space shuttle columbia disaster was a fatal incident in the united states space program that occurred on february 1 2003 when the space shuttle columbia ov 102 disintegrated as it reentered the atmosphere killing all seven crew members the disaster was the second fatal accident in the space shuttle program after the 1986 breakup of challenger soon after liftoff. Mickey o brien united space alliance technician installs the tile on atlantis.

When the outer portion of a tile gets hot the heat takes a long time to work its way down through the rest of the tile to the shuttle s skin. Replacing older tile with the bri 18 tile in strategic areas is one of the columbia accident investigation board s recommendations to strengthen the orbiters. The space shuttle columbia on mission sts 107 broke up on feb. Thermal protection system tps links.

This fascinating bbc documentary looks at the factors contributing to columbia s disaster including the heat resistant tiles covering the body of the vehicle. As we all know now the orbiter disintegrated during re. Space shuttle columbia completed her 16th flight by landing at the kennedy space center. An investigation led to changes in nasa procedures.

And that the strike hit hard and head on it wasn t a glancing blow on the tile. 1 2003 killing its seven member crew. Register to acquire tiles through the new nasa space programs historic artifacts prescreening web site. That day we lost our second space shuttle orbiter and the first accident in nearly 20 years.