KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata gestures as he examines the spar installation (behind him) on the wing of the orbiter Atlantis. Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC) panels are mechanically attached to the wing via the spars - a series of floating joints - to reduce loading on the panels caused by wing deflections. The aluminum and the metallic attachments are protected from exceeding temperature limits by internal insulation.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata gestures as he examines the spar installation (behind him) on the wing of the orbiter Atlantis. Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC) panels are mechanically attached to the wing via the spars - a series of floating joints - to reduce loading on the panels caused by wing deflections. The aluminum and the metallic attachments are protected from exceeding temperature limits by internal insulation.
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Details
NASA ID
KSC-03pd2585
Date Created
September 5, 2003
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Kennedy Space Center, FL
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