WebAug 27, 2004 · NASA believes the accident was caused by a foam bipod ramp that peeled off during the strain of launch. The loose foam hit the left wing of the orbiter and ripped a hole in it, so the shuttle could not withstand the pressure of re-entry.Polyurethane foam has been used since the beginning of the space shuttle programme to insulate the fuel tanks. WebFeb 1, 2013 · A piece of insulating foam separated from the left "bipod ramp" that connected the shuttle's fuel tank to the orbiter, gouging a hole in a reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) panel on the leading edge ...
Board studies wing edge, wind shear, foam repair - Spaceflight …
Webon foam insulation (SOFI) separated from the external tank left bipod ramp area, and impacted the shuttle orbiter left wing leading edge. “Analysis showed that this large piece … WebDamage to the reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) wing leading edge (WLE) resulting from impact of insulation foam on ascent was believed to be the damage that led to the loss of the vehicle and crew ... graduation money lay
DESPITE TESTS, FOAM FAILURE STILL A MYSTERY – Orlando Sentinel
WebJan 25, 2024 · About 82 seconds after Columbia left the ground, a piece of foam fell from a "bipod ramp" that was part of a structure that attached the external tank to the shuttle. Video from the launch ... WebApr 16, 2012 · The bipod ramp was originally designed to reduce aerodynamic stresses around the bipod attachment points at the external tank, but it was proven unnecessary in the wake of the accident and was removed from the external tank design for tanks flown after STS-107. ... Bipod Ramp insulation had been observed falling off, in whole or in … WebBipod ramp insulation had been observed falling off, in whole or in part, on four previous flights: STS-7 (1983), STS-32 (1990), STS-50 (1992) and most recently STS-112 (just two launches before STS-107). chimney slab