▲ 11 r/spacequestions
If the STS-27 (Atlantis) damage had been properly identified, how could the crew have been saved?
During ascent, STS-27 (Atlantis) sustained significant damage to its heat shield.
From my understanding the ascent damage on STS-27 (two flights after the Challenger Accident) was underestimated due to the encrypted nature of the mission.
Upon reentry and landing, the damage was discovered to be far more extensive than originally believed. A very similar situation to the incident that ended up destroying Columbia.
In the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, an audacious plan was presented that may have been committed to save Columbia (if her ascent damage had been properly investigated).
What would have been plan to save Atlantis on STS-27, if her ascent damage had been determined to significant for reentry?
u/AggressivePosition12 — 11 days ago