KSC-04-S-00393
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Source: images.nasa.gov
Video source record: https://images.nasa.gov/details-ksc_121304_rtf_growice
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Summary
| Description | Engineers are conducting some pretty 'cool' experiments at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. They're growing ice in a controlled environment to gain a better understanding of how much ice can safely accumulate on the Space Shuttle's External Tank. The tests are very important because External Tank debris led to the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia. Depending on launch-day weather conditions, ice and frost can form on the External Tank when it's loaded with super-cold liquid propellants. To simulate these conditions, engineers mount four 2-foot-by-2-foot panels on a metal frame and freeze them with liquid helium or liquid nitrogen over an eight-hour period. Engineers will monitor the tests to see if the ice grown in the lab looks similar to ice that forms on the External Tank. Ice characteristics like size, hardness and density will be recorded for analysis. Data gathered from these 'ice cold' tests will help NASA determine potential debris sources and will also be used in futur |
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| Date | 2004-12-14 |
| Source | images.nasa.gov |