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Strange Object Baffles Astronauts

Posted Jun 13, 08 11:10 CDT in US,  Science & Health 

(Newser) – The Discovery’s crew was perplexed today when it spotted a mysterious object floating past the right wing, the Houston Chronicle reports. The astronauts sent videos and photos of the light-colored, rectangular object to NASA. They also noticed an unusual protrusion on the tail rudder. “We’re in data assessment mode at this point,” a mission control spokesman said.

The rudder protrusion is near the shuttle’s heat shielding; engineers think it may be a piece of insulation sticking out. The astronauts are preparing to use the shuttle’s camera-wielding robot arm to investigate. The object, meanwhile, was about 18 inches long and may have come from the shuttle’s cargo bay. If the shuttle’s return is delayed tomorrow, the crew has enough supplies to remain in orbit until Tuesday.

Sources Houston Chronicle, Associated Press

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The vertical stabilizer on the shuttle Discovery is seen in this June 13 photo. The shuttle crew noticed an object floating away, and discovered a small protrusion on the stabilizer's rudder.   (AP Photo/NASA TV)
Space shuttle Discovery's Remote Manipulator System docking mechanism, vertical stabilizer and orbital maneuvering system pods are featured in this photo taken by a Discovery crew member, June 1.   (AP Photo/NASA)
In this image from NASA TV, the International Space Station is seen from the shuttle Discovery after the two undocked Wednesday, June 11, 2008.   (AP Photo/NASA TV)
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