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Possible Debris Spotted Falling From Shuttle

NASA Analyzing Video Of Loose Piece

POSTED: Tuesday, July 26, 2005
UPDATED: 10:38 pm EDT July 26, 2005

NASA officials are analyzing video of a portion of Tuesday's shuttle launch "frame-by-frame" after one of several cameras aboard the craft captured what appeared to be pieces of debris separating from Discovery, according to Local 6 News.

  • "The question was asked whether this was a danger to the orbiter?," Forbes said. "Officials said they did not think so but they are still going to analyze the video."

    Local 6 News aired video showing the pieces apparently coming loose while the shuttle's solid rocket boosters separated (pictured, left).


    SLIDESHOW: Cam Catches Debris Falling Off Shuttle
    VIDEO: Video Shows Pieces Coming Loose
    IMAGES: See The Launch
    RELATED: Shuttle Hits Bird


    There also appears to have been a large piece of debris coming off the external fuel tank two minutes into the flight -- but it doesn't appear to have hit the orbiter, Associated Press reported.

    "Mission managers spoke after the liftoff and said they had no idea what the debris was, whether it was foam or something else," Local 6 News reporter Donald Forbes said. "They had no idea where it came from. They said they are going to go over each frame of film and of tape to try to find out where it came from."

    Mission control called up to the crew Tuesday at about 5 p.m. to report two items noted on ascent imagery and tracking, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.

    They said both events happened around the time of solid rocket booster separation and are being studied by NASA's launch imagery experts. One was captured by launch video and the other by ground-based radar.

    "I did get an early report before we left the firing room from the radar team that said they saw no tracks prior to SRB sep. (solid rocket booster separation) and of course at SRB sep., we put off booster covers and different things we know come off," Space Shuttle deputy program manager Wayne Hale said. "So far, I think the best shot was that of the external tank looking back at the orbiter as it flew away and it looked really good to me. We will have to see though. The guys are going over that frame-by-frame and tomorrow we will have a better story for you."

    NASA officials said they were expecting popcorn-sized pellets of foam to pop off during launch.

    Slideshow

    "They knew that this foam was going to shed anyway, that was one of recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board," Forbes said. "To completely eliminate any foam shedding, they simply couldn't do it."

    Two chase planes and more than 100 cameras monitored the liftoff from every possible angle to capture any sign of flying debris which is what doomed the Columbia in 2003.

    Local 6 News reported that one camera angle showed the piece flying off.

    NASA has been especially concerned about debris since a chunk of foam from the external fuel tank punched a hole in the wing of the shuttle Columbia, leading to the re-entry disaster in 2003.

    "The question was asked whether this was a danger to the orbiter?," Forbes said. "Officials said they did not think so but they are still going to analyze the video."

    During the 12-day mission, commander Eileen Collins and her crew will deliver supplies to the international space station and test new techniques for inspecting and patching the shuttle in orbit.

    Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.


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