This morning during removal of external fuel tank foam insulation, technicians identified two cracks on a section of the tank’s metal exterior. The foam cracked during draining operations following the shuttle Discovery’s launch scrub on Nov. 5. They were found one of the stringers, which are composite aluminum ribs located vertically on the tank’s intertank area. The cracks are approximately 9 inches long. Engineers are reviewing images of the cracks to determine the best possible repair method, which would be done at Launch Pad 39A.
Crews have repaired similar cracks during external tank production by removing the cracked aluminum and replacing it with a “doubler,” which is a twice-as-thick stringer section before replacing the foam insulation.
Exact schedules and repair options still are being evaluated.