Shuttle Foam Test Is Delayed by Storms

Thunderstorms sweeping across Texas scuttled Columbia accident investigators’ plan Thursday to fire a piece of foam at space shuttle wing parts to test their theory of what destroyed the spacecraft.

The crucial test was rescheduled for today, though more bad weather was expected.

“I know we’re all disappointed, but we really want to get this test absolutely right and be sure that everything is as perfect and ready to go as we can make it,” said Scott Hubbard, the Columbia accident investigator in charge of the impact testing.

Hubbard was stuck in Houston because of the storms and could not fly to San Antonio, and so he delayed the experiment. Also, lightning would have endangered those taking part in the outdoor experiment, and the driving rain would have ruined the picture-taking required for the test.

It will be the first time foam is shot at the reinforced carbon panels and seals that form the leading edge of shuttle wings. The key pieces were removed from another shuttle, Discovery.

During Columbia’s liftoff back in January, a 1 1/2-pound chunk of foam broke off the fuel tank and smashed into the leading edge of the left wing. The investigation board suspects the debris knocked a hole in the leading edge that two weeks later let in the scorching gases of reentry and doomed the ship and its seven-member crew.

Last week at Southwest Research Institute, a similar-size piece of foam was fired at a wing replica made of fiberglass panels and seals taken from the never-launched shuttle prototype Enterprise. The parts that took the brunt of the impact were deformed by the foam.

Hubbard said he and others expect the upcoming test to result in greater damage because the reinforced carbon is more brittle than fiberglass.

To simulate what investigators believe happened at the launch pad, the foam will be fired at 530 mph through the 35-foot barrel of a nitrogen-pressurized gun normally used to shoot debris at airplane parts. Twelve high-speed cameras will document the test.