Same old fuel leak delays Endeavour again

William Atkins
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 18:13

Science - Space

This beta angle states the percentage of time that the shuttle, in this case, spends in direct sunlight.

The beta angle is defined as the angle between the orbital plane (of the shuttle) and the vector from the Sun (the directional line of sunlight coming from the Sun). For orbits such as the ones for the space shuttle, a low-Earth orbit (LEO), the beta angle cannot be less than 59%.

In other words, the shuttle's skin needs the heat from sunlight to function properly, and the percentage needs to be above 59% for proper conditions to exist in space for the shuttle.

Between June 22 and July 10, the beta angle percentage is below 59% so it creates a mission condition that prohibits the shuttle from docking to the space station.

NASA states, “The 16-day mission to the International Space Station will feature five spacewalks and complete construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. Astronauts will attach a platform to the outside of the Japanese module that will allow experiments to be exposed to space.”

At this time, it was unknown if NASA would have the leak fixed by the July 11 date.

On the bright side, the LRO/LCROSS launch, which was delayed one day to allow Endeavour the chance to launch, is right on schedule to be launched either on Thursday, June 18, or Friday, June 19. The LRO/LCROSS mission is an unmanned mission to explore the Moon.

For additional information, on the Moon launch and mission, please go to the June 3, 2009 NASA article “The LRO/LCROSS Flight to the Moon.”

The article states, “The LRO/LCROSS mission hopes to discover what the moon has to offer for the future moon dwellers.”