NASA: Atlantis heat shield damage 'minor' say officials

by Rich Bowden - May 13 2009, 03:46

NASA officials have stated that damage to the space shuttle Atlantis' heat shield during liftoff appears to be minor.

Four tiles on the underside heat shield were damaged during the shuttle's takeoff  yesterday. Despite downplaying the damage, mission officials will be mindful that space shuttle Columbia was destroyed during re-entry in 2003 after sustaining heat shield damage, killing all seven crew members.

In an updated statement put out by the space administration, Flight Director Tony Ceccacci said that, after checking the damage, the crew of Atlantis found minor dings that are not likely to be a major concern. However, he added that experts would continue to monitor the damaged area to ensure the heat shielding remains in good shape.

In a news briefing, LeRoy Cain, who chairs the NASA mission management team, said the location of the damage, and its relative shallowness, meant it was unlikely to be a problem.

"The same amount of damage in another area might be more critical," he told reporters. "The damage itself appears to be relatively shallow, and it's not a very large area."

The shuttle is due to rendezvous with the Hubble Space Telescope later today, at which point the crew will carry out the iconic observatory's last servicing mission.

The Tech Herald: Atlantis on final countdown to vital Hubble mission

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