Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

September 8, 2008 4:37:32 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Spacewalking Astronauts Test Repair Goo

Posted Mar 21, 08 12:31 PM CDT in Science & Health 

(Newser) – Spacewalking astronauts successfully tested a high-tech goo that can be used to repair heat shields and help avert a repeat of the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster, the Houston Chronicle reports. In work reminiscent of a “tile-and-grout” job, astronauts sprayed the pink caulk onto shuttle sections that were purposely damaged. “Having this in our bag of tricks is really going to be helpful," said one of the astronauts.

“I'm thrilled with what we saw today,” said a flight director. The goo is intended to repair tiles on the underbelly of shuttles, Space.com reports, but NASA hopes never to have to use it. Such damaged tiles are what doomed Columbia. The astronauts head Earthward on the shuttle Endeavour on Monday after a record-long 16-day mission.

Sources Houston Chronicle, Space.com

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Astronauts Installing New Lab

    Jun 3, 08 5:04 PM CDT
    Astronauts Installing New Lab Two spacewalking astronauts are preparing the enormous Japanese-made Kibo lab for eventual installation on the International Space Station, the Houston Chronicle reports. After getting a late start this morning because of a communications malfunction, Mike Fossum and Ron Garan sped through their checklists and got back ahead of schedule. The expedition is expected to take almost 7 hours. More »

  • Endeavour Crew Finishes Final Walk

    Mar 22, 08 6:49 PM CDT
    Endeavour Crew Finishes Final Walk A pair of Endeavour astronauts completed the last spacewalk of their historic assembly mission tonight, the Houston Chronicle reports. Over 6 hours, Mike Forman and Bob Behnken set up an inspection boom outside the International Space Station to help future shuttles avoid disasters like the 2003 Columbia tragedy. The boom scans thermal armor for damage that shuttles may sustain in the nose and wings after launch. More »

  • Dextre Tooled Up, Good to Go

    Mar 18, 08 8:33 AM CDT
    Dextre Tooled Up, Good to Go Dextre, the colossal space robot, is ready to go and awaiting instructions after astronauts successfully fitted the 12-foot helper with a tool kit and cameras for "eyes" last night, Space.com reports. Dextre is set to take up residence outside the International Space Station's Destiny lab later today and will undergo tests before it is asked to perform major tasks. More »

  • Dextre Stretches His Limbs

    Mar 17, 08 10:30 AM CDT
    Dextre Stretches His Limbs Dextre, the International Space Station’s own gigantic space robot, flexed its mighty arms for the first time last night, the Houston Chronicle reports. Astronauts put the bot through its paces, moving and stopping each of its 14 arm joints. Dextre mostly passed the test; every joint moved perfectly save one, which took longer to brake than expected. More »

  • Dextre Lives! Space Robot Gets Power

    Mar 15, 08 1:46 PM CDT
    Dextre Lives! Space Robot Gets Power Dextre's finally getting some juice. Astronauts aboard the international space station solved a glitch last night and got power flowing to their partially built robot, the AP reports. Now they can go ahead with a spacewalk tonight to finish assembling it. “There was obviously some real concern over the last day or two for getting that powered up,” said one official. More »

This image from NASA TV shows astronauts during a spacewalk Thursday, March 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/NASA)
This image from NASA TV shows astronauts during a spacewalk Thursday, March 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/NASA)
This image from NASA TV shows astronauts during a spacewalk Thursday, March 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/NASA)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 2)

Tags

NASA  • International Space Station  • astronauts  • spacewalk  • repair  • Columbia Space Shuttle  • heat shield  • Endeavor space shuttle


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »