Shuttle On Approach

Author
Aron Schatz
Posted
July 17, 2006
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7122

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Turn on NASA TV and watch the shuttle landing. The shuttle had some minor technical details before landing. It is looking good.

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There was one small glitch in the pre-landing check out. One of three Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) in Discovery's rear compartment has a small leak - about six drops per hour. The APUs power the hydraulic pump, which controls some of the systems needed for landing, such as the rudder/speed brake and the elevon. Flight controllers are not sure whether the leak is hydrazine fuel or the nitrogen that is used to pressurise the fuel tank. A hydrazine leak would be more serious than a nitrogen leak. Before the de-orbit engine firing, Discovery turned on that APU and it appeared to be working fine.

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