STS-78: Difference between revisions

Although the launch went without any issue, an issue was discovered with the [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster|solid rocket booster]]s (SRBs) following their disassembly in June post-recovery. Analysis showed worrying damage to the field joints which was likely caused by hot gases. SimilarFailure damage causedof booster seals aboardon the lower sections of [[Space Shuttle Challenger|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'']]'s toright breakSRB resultingultimately incaused athe [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|orbiter to break- up mid-flight]] in 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://p4a.seas.gwu.edu/2019-Fall/challengerExplosion.html|title=A case study on turning data into information|website=EMSE6574: Fall 2019|publisher=George Washington University|last=Helveston|first=John Paul|date=Fall 2019|access-date=15 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|chapter-url=https://www.nasa.gov/history/rogersrep/v1ch4.htm|chapter=Chapter IV: The Cause of the Accident|title=Report of the PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident|website=National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)|access-date=15 June 2024|date=6 June 1986|author=Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident|author-link=Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref> This time the issue did not compromise astronaut safety because the hot gas path traveled through the engines' field joints but not their capture joint (containing the infamous "O-ring" seals). Despite there being no issue with safety, it did raise questions about thea new [[Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]]-mandated (EPA)–mandated adhesive and cleaning fluid.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americaspace.com/2016/06/18/man-im-here-20-years-since-the-record-setting-mission-of-sts-78-part-1/|title='Man, I'm Here': 20 Years Since the Record-Setting Mission of STS-78 (Part 1)|date=June 18, 2016|website=AmericaSpace|language=en-US|access-date=15 June 2024}}</ref><ref name=prjuldelay>{{cite press release|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/1996/96-138.txt|title=NASA DELAYS LAUNCH OF SPACE SHUTTLE|date=12 July 1996|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223235229/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/1996/96-138.txt|archive-date=23 February 2010|website=NASA}}</ref>

Due to the issue, [[STS-79]] which was meant to dock with the [[Mir|Space Station ''Mir'']] and return astronaut [[Shannon Lucid]], was delayed.<ref name=prjuldelay/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/history/SP-4225/nasa2/nasa2.htm|title=NASA-2 Shannon Lucid: Enduring Qualities|website=Shuttle-Mir: The U.S. and Russia Share History's Highest Stage (CD-ROM edition)|publisher=NASA|access-date=15 June 2024|date=September 2001}}</ref> Options of returning Shannon on a Soyuz were considered,{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} but never followed through as the Shuttle was considered safe and able to return Shannon.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}