The shuttle's heat shields get nicked as the new mission signals the end of an era
By Stuart Fox Posted 05.13.2009 at 12:50 pm 5 Comments

The Space Shuttle Atlantis En route to the final Hubble service mission courtesy of NASA

When NASA unveiled the first space shuttle in 1977, they named it Enterprise to evoke advanced technology and the promise of space flight. Now, over 30 years later, the shuttle has become the interplanetary version of the family wagon: old, but still getting the job done.

Underscoring the age and delicacy of the shuttle is news that four of the tiles that protect the shuttle during reentry were damaged during takeoff. According to NASA, 103 seconds into launch, debris hit four of the tiles, but the space agency has called the damage "minor" and may not even repair the tiles until the shuttle gets back to Earth.

Related Articles

Hubble Camera's Farewell Photo
What Comes After Hubble?

Tags

Technology, Stuart Fox, hubble, nasa, news, space debris, space news, space shuttle, space shuttle atlantis
This servicing mission is the tenth to last mission for the entire shuttle fleet, and the Washington Post used this opportunity to look back at the age of the shuttle, explore its legacy and examine its replacement, the Ares. Sure, the article calls the shuttle "aged, flawed", but it also notes that it does have its admirers amongst NASA engineers.

Want to read more articles on the military, aviation, and space? Subscribe to Popular Science today, for less than $1 per issue!

5 Comments

Link to this comment
Riley Martin
05/14/09 at 3:20 pm

Having visited, ugh, the Biaviians, I strongly urge, the US government to...pool their massive resources, in uhg, as we say, a coordinated, conceived, jump to Tracheyon. This shoulda happened on The Great Mothership and this woulda never happened man. You understand?

Link to this comment
E-Ron
05/15/09 at 8:54 am

Definitely, Riley. I'm always amazed at the level of understanding and knowledge that the Biaviians have achieved. All right, next call is from Bong Hit Bill.

Link to this comment
Riley Martin
05/15/09 at 8:55 am

Hello Bill? Hello Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill? Bong Hit? Ohhhh ha ha ha, ohhh.

Link to this comment
Bong Hit Bill
05/15/09 at 8:59 am

(bubblebubblebubblebubblebubblebubble. gaaaaasp. COUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGH)

Link to this comment
E-Ron
05/15/09 at 9:06 am

Ha ha haha. Sounds like Bill's got a hold of some of that Stagyian purple leaf, eh Riley? Ha haha.


138 years of Popular Science at your fingertips.

Innovation Challenges

Make your ideas part of the revolution
Learn morePowered by Innocentive



Popular Science+ For iPad

Each issue has been completely reimagined for your iPad. See our amazing new vision for magazines that goes far beyond the printed page



Download Our App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone or Android phone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed


February 2012: The Future of Fun

Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?


circ-top-header.gif
circ-cover.gif
bmxmag-ps