WORLD / America
Astronauts check Discovery for damage
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-12-11 07:46
HOUSTON - The orbiting Discovery crew started the meticulous inspection
of the shuttle's heat shield on Sunday, looking for any possible damage
from liftoff.
The space shuttle Discovery is seen in this televised view from a camera
mounted on the external fuel tank as it separates from the orbiter after
launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida December 9, 2006.
[Reuters]
Mission specialist Nicholas Patrick maneuvered the shuttle's 50-foot
robotic arm and similarly long boom with cameras and sensors as the exam
began on the spacecraft's right wing.
"Last we heard, they haven't found anything," said NASA spokeswoman
Brandi Dean, as the crew prepared to scan the left wing - the final step
in the inspection.
The thorough sweep included the wings and nose cap for chips and other
damage from foam, a procedure made mandatory after the deadly Columbia
accident in 2003. The survey began 3:08 p.m. and was expected to last 5
1/2 hours.
During tests late Saturday, the robotic arm's latching mechanism was not
working automatically, so Patrick manually ordered the arm to grasp the
boom. Otherwise, the inspection was without incident. Engineers are
examining the camera images in real time and also will review them in
greater detail later on.
Preliminary radar reports from Discovery's Saturday night launch also
showed nothing of concern, NASA spokesman Kyle Herring said.
Meanwhile, the other crew members checked on the spacesuits that will be
used during the mission's three spacewalks.
Discovery fired its engines Sunday to raise its altitude to 216 miles
above Earth, nearly level with the international space station, where it
will dock Monday afternoon.
Then the real work begins.
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