Space Shuttle to be Outfitted with New Sensors 166
Norman at Davis writes "Space.com is reporting on new "sensors designed to pinpoint potential damage from falling debris or other objects [which] will be installed into the wings of NASA's remaining shuttle fleet...." Unfortunately, the sensors won't be too sophisticated, MSNBC reports that 'the extent of damage would still have to be determined by an inspection by astronauts in orbit, using an extension boom equipped with cameras and lasers.' Apparently NASA is in the process of developing three techniques which will allow astronauts to spacewalk and repair holes up to fourteen inches in diameter. Finally... the Australian Broadcasting Corporation is also running an article on the topic, stating that "not only will computers provide state-of-the-art imaging, but Defence Department satellites will supplement inspections made by the shuttle astronauts themselves and photographs taken from the International Space Station." 'NASA's efforts to improve its ability to detect whether the shuttle has been struck during flight have evolved remarkably since Columbia's January launch, when engineers watched loops of film sent to Miami for development and projected against a wall by a noisy old projector.' Hopefully this new technology will prevent another Columbia-like disaster, as a space shuttle replacement is looking less likely by the day."
not if you believe (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Spacewalk? (Score:0, Funny)
Re:It's life Jim, but not as we know it... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:14 inch hole? (Score:0, Funny)
14"? Then they should do us all a favour and patch goatse.cx guy.
misread... (Score:4, Funny)
Finally, Lasers! (Score:3, Funny)
Top 10 Reasons for New Censors (Score:5, Funny)
9. Cerebro mode to make Professor X feel welcome.
8. To prove WMD's on Mars in advance of invasion
7. Now they can finally find out if that is a Class-M planet down there.
6. New Stroboscopic Polarizing System now makes the Mushroom Planet visible at last.
5. Sensors? I thought you said "Censors". Drats! There are too many astronauts watching Hentai aboard this thing.
4. To find out if that is Val Kilmer's robot dog scratching at the outside walls, or just space junk.
3. "A cloaked SCO battlecruiser, of the Penguinkiller class, off the starboard bow!"
2. So we, for one, can see and welcome our new alien ant overlords before anyone else.
1. Lazy fat American Astronauts can now sit in ship and see everything outside, no need for spacewalk.
Re:It's a bandaid (Score:3, Funny)
"Press the big red button to eject.
Warning: no air outside, and it's a loooong fall"
overheard at Nasa's Safety Department... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:It's a bandaid (Score:2, Funny)
It's all relative, ain't it.
That really cracked me up. deep-space, indeed
I suppose when the majority of the spaceflight is a few miles above the earth, going to the moon seems like deep-space.
somehow, deep-space implies inter-stellar distances, in my mind
WHEN'S THE WEBCAM OUT?!! (Score:1, Funny)
Obligatory Star Trek reference (Score:3, Funny)
As long as they pronounce "sensor" as in "sen-sors indicate Kling-on wessel, captain", I'm in perfect agreement.
But only if.
Are we really ready for space? (Score:4, Funny)
Item 87: Make sure nothing fell off during ascent.
Hmmm.