NASA analyses shuttle shield damage ahead of space-walk

Experts at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on Earth were analysing pictures taken of the shuttle during a routine inspection yesterday after the orbiter docked with the station, that showed the apparent 19 square centimeter gouge on shuttles heat shield.

A piece of ice that struck the shuttle shortly after Wednesday’s liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida is believed to have caused the gouge near the hatch of one of the shuttle’s landing gears, mission manager John Shannon said.

Small white marks were also visible on other thermal tiles surrounding the damaged area, he told a news conference.

He said NASA was trying to determine the extent of the apparent damage, adding “What this means, I don’t know at this point.”

The gash was detected yesterday after ISS crew members took 296 pictures of the shuttle’s underside, while it performed a back-flip during its approach to the station.

The two space-walkers, mission specialists Rick Mastracchio of the United States and Canadian Dave Williams, spent the night in a special airlock to prevent decompression sickness during the walk.