CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Discovery's crew used highly sensitive cameras attached to a 15-metre boom yesterday to carefully examine the space shuttle for any signs of damage from the previous day's launch. Nothing serious was reported, but it was much too early to draw any conclusions, officials said.
The only unusual thing found, at least for now, was a whitish splotch on the right wing that looked like a bird dropping. There was one on the wing nearly three weeks ago at the launch pad; flight director Tony Ceccacci said he saw it there from a distance of no more than three metres. Ceccacci said the imagery experts will study the splotch and make sure it's nothing more than a bird's shuttle signature. | Bringing in an outside consultant, the car wash dude from down the street |
If that's what it is, it will burn off during the ride back from space, he said.
Shuttle managers said early video images of Tuesday's liftoff showing small pieces of foam breaking away, and one striking the spacecraft, were not troubling. Discovery was on target for a linkup with the International Space Station today and operating well, the flight director said. |