STS107 Mishap Analysis

1
STS-107 Mishap Analysis

• CAPT CHRISTIAN READY
• Carroll Composite Squadron
• (Current as of 06 February 2003)

2
What Well Cover

• Re-entry
• Possible Causes
• Rescue Scenarios
• Areas of Investigation
• Search Recovery
• Questions Discussion

3
Re-entry
4
Planned Reentry
Source NASA
5
Reentry Visualization
Source Analytical Graphics, Inc.
6
Re-Entry Timeline

• 0815 EST OMS deorbit burn
• 0843 Entry Interface
• 0852 Three temperature sensors in left-hand
  wheel well rise 20-30 F in 5 minutes
• 0853 (Over CA) Fourth left brake line strut
  actuator rose 30-40 F in 5 minutes

Source spaceflight.nasa.gov
7
Re-Entry Timeline

• 0854
• Sensors above the left wing show a 60 rise in
  five minutes
• Sensors on the right side show a more normal 15
  rise
• Indication of significant heating problem on left
  side.
• 0855 Fifth left brake line strut actuator
  temperature rises

Source spaceflight.nasa.gov
8
Heating in left wheel well
Source Analytical Graphics, Inc.
9
Re-Entry Timeline

• 0857 (Over AZ, NM)
• Upper and lower left wing temperature sensors
  fail offscale low
• 0858
• FCS actuate flaps on the left wing move to steer
  the shuttle on course after computers detected
  the shuttle was beginning to fly off course due
  to increased drag on the left wing
• Wheel well sensors measuring temperature and
  pressure of the left main-landing gear fail

Source spaceflight.nasa.gov
10
Re-Entry Timeline

• 0859 (West TX)
• Left wing aerosurface compensate for excessive
  yaw to left.
• Right yaw jets fire for 1.5 sec.
• Rate of change back to normal attitude decreases
• LOS

Source spaceflight.nasa.gov
11
Radar of Breakup
Source Analytical Graphics, Inc.
12
Visualization of Breakup
Source Analytical Graphics, Inc.
13
Video from Sparks, NV

• Amateur Astronomer footage, passing west to east,
  crossing Venus
• http//carroll.mdwg.cap.gov/resources/docs/21411.m
  ov
• http//carroll.mdwg.cap.gov/resources/docs/21411.z
  ip

14
Possible causes
15
Possible Causes

• Aerodynamic structural breakup of left wing
• Tile loss on left wing
• Engine failure ? fuel ignition

Source Time, Inc. http//www.time.com/time/nation
/article/0,8599,418462,00.html
16
Tile strike on ascent
Source Analytical Graphics, Inc.
17
T 33 sec
Source Spaceflightnow.com/NASA
18
T 81 sec
Impact near left wings leading edge
Source NASA/CNN
19
T 84 sec
Impact underside left wing
Source NASA/CNN
20
Impact Analysis

• Assume 16 x 20 x 6
• Assume mass of 2.67 Lbs
• Air velocity of 1,500 fps, or 1,023 mph
• 10, 13 16 incidence angles
• No cause for concern
• Real cause/contributor to problem?
• Analysis currently being redone

Source Spaceflightnow.com/NASA
21
ET Foam
Source Spaceflightnow.com/NASA
22
Before and After
23
Rescue Scenarios
24
Spacewalk to repair tiles

• EVA suits on board
• No spare tiles
• No RMS/No jetpacks
• Nothing to hold on to
• Danger to spacewalkers
• Danger to shuttle

25
Send a second shuttle

• Atlantis
• Conserve fuel/consumables
• Spacewalks

26
Dock with International Space Station

• Wrong orbit
• No docking ring
• Spacewalks

27
Descend at different angle

• High risk of failure
• Too fast for safe landing

28
Areas of Investigation
29
Areas of Investigation

• Launch film/video
• Launch radar
• Launch telemetry
• Flight data/video/radar/telemetry
• Re-entry film/video
• Re-entry radar
• Re-entry telemetry
• Additional data (32 sec) after LOS
• Recovered debris

30
Search Recovery
31
Recovery Area
Source National Weather Service
32
Recovery of Debris
Source CNN.com
33
Recovery of Debris
Source CNN.com
34
Recovery of Debris
Source CBSNEWS.com/Associated Press
35
Recovery of Debris
Source CNN.com/Associated Press
36
Recovery Operations

• Barksdale AFB, LA
• 1st Air Force FEMA
• CAP/USAF Aux has offered assistance

37
Questions/Discussion