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From: mmachlis@athena.mit.edu (Matthew A Machlis)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Fuel-line door questions...
Message-ID: <1991Feb25.204556.16156@athena.mit.edu>
Date: 25 Feb 91 20:45:56 GMT
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Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Two questions about the fuel line doors, which have the cracked hinges on
Discovery and Columbia, if anyone has any information:

1) Is there any kind of sensor which indicates to the crew or ground
controllers whether or not the doors are closed?  Or do they have to just
wait and see if the orbiter survives reentry or not?

2) Granted that it would be extremely risky and expensive, but if they
knew the doors hadn't closed correctly is there any way they could try to
close them manually through an EVA?


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Matt Machlis
MIT Space Systems Laboratory
(617)253-2272