Xref: utzoo sci.space:11353 sci.space.shuttle:3100 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!ames!skipper!shafer From: shafer@drynix.dfrf.nasa.gov Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle Subject: Re: space news from March 27 AW&ST Message-ID: Date: 12 May 89 22:18:00 GMT References: <1989May8.033250.18780@utzoo.uucp> <15988@bellcore.bellcore.com> <6390@cbnews.ATT.COM> <52000@philabs.Philips.Com> <1989May11.202243.1111@utzoo.uucp> Sender: news@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov Organization: NASA Dryden, Edwards, Cal. Lines: 34 In-reply-to: henry@utzoo.uucp's message of 11 May 89 20:22:43 GMT In article <1989May11.202243.1111@utzoo.uucp> henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes: >In article <52000@philabs.Philips.Com> rfc@briar.philips.com.UUCP > (Robert Casey) writes: >>I believe I once heard that Enterprise was damaged (bent frame? or something) >>and was not flightworthy. Any truth to this? > No damage that I know of. It's overweight and well below normal orbiter > specs, but that's another story. If you did a thorough refit on it, you > could theoretically fly it into space, although payload would be low due > to the overweight structure. I think that Robert Casey is referring to some testing that was done once it was decided that the Enterprise absolutely, definitely would not be used for flight. To test the ability of GVTs (ground vibration tests, a classical structural test technique) to find damage in the Orbiters, structural elements (i.e. wing spars) were cut. GVTs run before and after the damage was inflicted were then examined to see if they could be used in place of other methods (actual inspection, I think) to assess the structural integrity of the Orbiters, particularly for less than total damage to a structural element. The structural elements were cut to various depths, although I don't think any were completely severed. After all, it's still strong enough to be ferried. Thus, the Enterprise is _not_ flightworthy without structural refurbishment. -- M F Shafer NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility shafer@elxsi.dfrf.nasa.gov or shafer@drynix.dfrf.nasa.gov NASA management doesn't know what I'm doing and I don't know what they're doing, and everybody's happy this way.