NASA is now more confident it can make minor in-flight repairs to a shuttle’s heat shield in orbit after the successfully testing of the repair techniques during the Wednesday spacewalk outside the Discovery.  According to Tony Ceccacci, lead shuttle flight director for the STS-121 mission, the preliminary results are positive. However, the repair technique will likely be limited to the types of repairs they performed.

During a seven-hour and 11-minute spacewalk, Piers Sellers and Michael Fossum tested application methods for a sticky, black material dubbed NOAX (non-oxide adhesive experimental). The space age material was formulated to fill in cracks and gouges to the carbon composite panels lining a shuttle’s nose cap or wing leading edges. Using spatulas and caulk gun-like tools, they applied NOAX to squares of reinforced carbon carbon used to protect the shuttle nose and wings from reentry temperatures. Then they spent three hours testing the technique by perching themselves on the space station’s robotic arm and a shuttle foot restraint to recreate the types of positions that would likely be used in the event of an actual repair.

Today’s spacewalk adds to the initial tests conducted during NASA’s STS-114 astronauts in July 2005 to determine the basic behavior of NOAX under actual flight conditions. “For STS-114, the conditions that we did the NOAX repair was more of a science project to see if we could throw it on the piece of RCC and determine what the results were,” Ceccacci said. “For 121, these guys went through a lot of work to determine exactly how you would repair [damage].”

NASA mission controllers gave the go-signal for a third spacewalk and an extra day in space for the shuttle Discovery crew. “It’s a done deal,” according to lead shuttle flight director for Discovery’s STS-121 mission Tony Ceccacci. “We’re going to tell them we’ll step up to do a 13-day mission and we’ll plan accordingly.”

The extra day will give spacewalkers Piers Sellers and Michael Fossum a chance to test additional crack repair methods in the reinforced carbon carbon panels lining the shuttle wing leading edges. Ceccacci said the extra mission day will also give Discovery’s crew extra time for the cargo transfer operations and make heat shield repairs in case any damage is seen.

NASA set aside four hours today for the STS-121 crew to examine a gap filler jutting out near Discovery’s starboard external tank door, a gap filler along the forward section of the orbiter, a white spot that appears similar to bird droppings on the nose cap, two scuffs on a right wing RCC panel and a dark spot on another RCC panel on the same wing.

Sellers and Fossum are preparing for the first spacewalk to make repairs to the station’s railcar-like Mobile Transporter and test the stability of the orbital boom as a work platform.  The spacewalk starts at 9:13 a.m. EDT (1313 GMT) and can be viewed live on NASA TV.

The International Space Station (ISS) became the happiest place on Earth, err, in space when the seven crew members of the Discovery came aboard. This was Mission No.1 accomplished for the the STS-121 spaceflight. Tony Ceccacci, lead shuttle flight director for the Discovery mission said the orbiter’s docking at the ISS marks the start of a spaceflight marathon for the shuttle’s crew.

Veteran space cowboy and Discovery’s STS-121 mission commander, Steven Lindsey, eased the 100-ton shuttle into a berth at the end of the ISS Destiny lab at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT) today. Less than two hours later, Lindsey and his six STS-121 crewmates were exchanging handshakes and hugs with ISS Expedition 13 commander Pavel Vinogradov and flight engineer Jeffrey Williams.

Among the major achievements during the orbital rendezvous was Discovery’s orbital back flip executed while flying 600 feet below the ISS. During that time, Vinogradov and Williams took 350 still images later relayed down to Earth to be analyzed to determine the state of the Discovery’s heat shield.

The Discovery crew also oriented a thruster heater towards the Sun to keep it warm and made fine adjustments with the engine. Aside from those issues, Discovery’s STS-121 mission – and its crew – are sailing quietly along. “You know, it’s boring to us that it’s quiet, but that’s a good thing,” Ceccacci said. “That means everything is going well.”

What ordinary thing could withstand Florida thunderstorms, 300,000 gallons of water, and a very powerful upward burst through the Earth's atmosphere? The answer, apparently, is bird poop. Yes, the STS-121 may not be experiencing foam issues (thank God!) but apparently, bird droppings could be found in the shuttle's black, right wing edge.

The funny part about it is that three weeks ago, shuttle lead flight director Tony Ceccacci said he saw the same splotches on the same place and was surprised. The shuttle is in need of some good cleaning, if that's the case. It's quite a laugh that the bird droppings held its ground even during the July 4 launch. Discovery went from zero to 17,500 mph in just under nine minutes.  

Some of the droppings were already removed during liftoff and Mr. Ceccaci speculated that the rest of it will burn up during landing when the aforementioned bird poop affected area would be 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit hot.

If it still remains amidst all that heat, then maybe there ought to be an enterprising and skilled scientist who can harness the power of bird droppings. But looking on the bright side, if you're the type who's into superstitions, it is believed that when birds poop on someone or something, they would be blessed with good luck. Well, in this case, let's hope for that.